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THE 
WILLIAM  R.  PERKINS 
'      LIBRARY 

OF 
DUKE  UNIVERSITY 


Rare  Books 


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PRISONEil.)    .viiiMOlRS, 


DARTMOOR  PRISON ; 

HISTORY 

OF    THF    ENTIRE    CAPTIVTTV 

OF  THE  AMERICANS  IN  ENGLAND, 

fillOT*!    THE    COMMENCEMENT     OF    THE    LATE    WAR     BETWEEN    TUT 

T3SITLV  STATES  AXD  GREAT  BRITAIN,  CNTIl  ALi  PRISOX  EflS 

WERE    RELkASivD    BY    TUB 

TREATY  OF  GHENT. 

ALSO, 

V    P\RTTrrT.\R    nr.T^IL   of   all   OCCURRENCES 

HELATIVK    TO    THAT 

HORRID  MASSACRE  AT  DARTMOOR, 

On  the  fatal  evening  of  the  6th  of  April,  1815. 

HK  WHOLE  CASEFULLT  COMPILED  FROM  THE  JOURNAL  OF  CHABLEt 
ANDREWS,  A  PRISONER  IN  ENGLAND,  FROM  TUB  COMMENCEMEJIT  OF 
THE  WAR,  UNTIL  THE  RELEASE  OF  ALL  THE  PRISONERS. 


Qu(F«pif.  ipse  misfrrima  otA', 

Et  quorum  pars  mngna  fui ;  gvis  talia  /ando, 

Ttmperd  a  lucrymisf  Virg.  1.  ii.  v.  .'. 

Thpse  sufferings  \  myself  have  seen,  and  the  greater  part  of  which 
I  was  a  priocipal  party.     Who  can  relate  such  woes  without  a  tear  ? 


NEVV-YORK  : 

PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR 


PisTRiCT  OF  New-York,  ss. 

Be  it  remembered,  thnt  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  October,  in 
the  fortieth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  Uoiied  States  of  Ame- 
rica, Philip  R  Hopkins,  of  the  said  distuct,  havh  deposited  in  this 
office  the  titie  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  proprietor,  in 
the  words  and  figures  following,  to  wit : 

The  Prisoners'  Memoirs,  or,  Dartmoor  Prison  ;  containing  a  com- 
plete and  impartial  History  of  the  etitii-e  Captivity  of  the  Americans 
in  England,  from  the  corooiencemeot  of  the  late  war  between  tiie 
Cnited  States  and  Great  Britain,  until  all  prisoners  were  released  by 
t:ie  Treaty  of  Ghent.  Al^o,  a  particular  detail  of  all  occurrences  re- 
lative to  that  horrid  Massacre  at  Dartmoor,  on  the  fatal  evening  of 
r.ieGth  of  April,  1815. 

The  whole  carefully  compiled  from  the  Journal  of  Charles  Andrews, 
a  prisoner  in  England,  from  the  commencement  of  the  war,  until  the 
jelease  of  all  the  prisoners. 


Quceque  ipse  miserrima  vidi, 


El  quorum  pars  tnagna  fui  ;  quis  talia  /ando, 

Temperet  a  lacrymis  f  Virg.  1.  ii.  v,  5. 

These  sufferings  I  myself  have  seen,  and  the  greater  part  of  whicl 
I  was  a  principal  party.     Who  can  relate  such  woes  without  a  tear.'^ 

in  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  en- 
titled "  An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the 
copies  of  .\Iaps,  Charts,  and  Books  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of 
such  copies,  during  the  time  therein  mentioned."  And  also  to  an 
Act,  entitled  "  an  Act,  supplementary  to  an  Act,  entitled  an  Act  for 
the  encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  Maps, 
Charts,  and  Books  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  du- 
ring the  times  therein  mentioned,  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof 
to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving,  and  etching  historical  and  other 
prints." 

THERON  RUDD, 
Cltrk  of  the  Southern  District  of  Nm-  York. 


^^■^rp 


PREFACE. 


THE  great  anxiety  of  the  public  to  possess  a 
knowledge  of  the  tacts  contained  in  the  following  pages, 
has  obliged  the  editor  to  send  it  into  the  hands  of  the 
public  without  a  second  examin^ition,  and  therefore  in  a 
more  unfinished  state  than  he  could  have  wished.  But 
as  every  historical  relation  ought  to  contain  nothing  but  a 
recital  of  facts,  the  editor  has  aimed  to  give  the  truth 
with  as  great  perspicuity  as  possible,  without  endeavour- 
ing after  elegance  of  diction  or  flowery  romance.  He 
believes  it  will  not  be  an  unwelcome  service  to  the  pub- 
lic if  he  relates  to  them  what  appeared  to  be  the  mosf 
important  and  interesting  events  of  the  American  cap- 
tivity, without  endeavouring  to  infuse  into  them  the 
heat  of  political  prejudice.  Through  the  whole  he  has 
carefully  avoided  all  opprobrious  term^,  or  enthusiastic 
praise,  which  might  discord  with  the  feelings  of  any,  or 
tend  to  stir  up  new  hostilities  betwixt  the  late  bellige- 
rants. 

If  any  part  of  the  work  should  be  found  languid  and 
tedious,  it  must  be  wholly  attributed  to  the  suffering  si„ 
tuation  of  the  author  ;  the  vigour  and  vivacity  of  whose 
mind  was  greatly  affected  by  those  of  the  body.  If 
misery  is  less  interesting  collectively  in   groujis,   than 


IV 

when  viewed  individually,  let  the  reader  sino-le  out  one, 
and  view  him,  separately,  through  the  iron  giating,  and 
see  him,  pale  and  feeble,  etciiing  upon  a  stick,  with  a 
rusty  nail,  another  notch,  which  adds  to  his  kalendar 
another  of  those  dismal  days  and  nights  he  had  spent  in 
confinement ;  he  may  view  him  till  he  sees  the  iron  en- 
ter his  soul  before  he  turns  from  him,  and  then  say  —it 
was  my  son,  my  brother,  or  my  friend ! — he  will  the* 
fhave  a  picture  interesting  enough  to  his  feelings. 


CERTIFICATE. 


IT  E,  the  undersigned,  late  prisoners  of  war,  having  beea 
confined  prisoners  the  greater  part  of  the  last  war  be- 
tween the  United  States  of  America  and  Great  Britain, 
and  having  carefully  perused  and  examined  the  follow- 
ing Manuscript  Journal,  kept  by  Charles  Andrews,  our 
fellow-prisoner  at  Dartmoor,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  in 
the  kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  do  solemnly  declare,  that 
all  matter  and  occurrences  herein  contained,  are  just  and 
true,  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge  and  belief;  and  that 
tliis  is  the  only  Journal  kept  at  Dartmoor. 

Capt.  Joshua  Wait,  New-York. 
Capt.  Samuel  H.  Ginnodo,  Newport,  R,  T. 
Capt.  Frederick  H.  Coffin,  Hudson,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  Joseph  C.  INIorgan,  Newport,  11.  I. 

Lieut.  Homer  Hull,  Con. 

Mr.  Jacob  Evans,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Capt.  Benjamin  F.  Chesebrough, Con. 

Mr.  Luther  S.  Dunbar,  Boston,  Mass. 
Capt.  Richard  Longly,  Portland,  D.  M. 
Mr.  Ephraim  Abbott,  Boston,  Mass. 
Mr.  Fenton  Conner,  Charleston,  S.  C. 
Mr.  Joseph  Conner,  Newbern,  N.  C. 

Mr.  David  Morrison,  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Caleb  Coffin,  Nantucket,  Mass. 
Mr.  John  Merrill,  Portland,  Maine. 


VI 


Capt.  Charles  Bennet,  Hudson,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  Willium  Gnffiii,  S^;lem,  Mass. 
Mr.  James  Bowie,         do.         do. 
Mr.  John  F.  Foster,  Gloucester,  Mass  J 
Mr.  Joseph  Clark,  Cape-Elizabeth,  do. 
Mr.  John  Stafford,  Boston,  Mass. 
Mr.  Charles  Whitewood,  New-York. 
Mr.  Samuel  Rossett,  do. 

Mr.  Jacob  F,  Taylor,  Philadelphia. 
Mr.  William  Conklin,  New-York. 
Mr.  Samuel  S.  Brush,        do. 
Capt.  John  C.  Rowles,  Baltimore,  Md. 
Mr.  Jojm  Meig-h,  Boston,  Mass. 
Mr.  Edward  Shaw,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Lieut.  S.  S.  Fitch,  Connecticut, 

Mr.  Samuel  Correy,  Vermont. 

Mr.  Samuel  Howard,  Baltimore,  Md. 
Mr.  William  Clark,  Boston,  Mass. 
Mr.  Joseph  Fosdick,     do.       do. 
Mr.  Samuel  Morrison,  New-York. 
Mr.  William  Hull,  do. 

Mr.  William  Atkins,  Connecticut 

Mr.  Daniel  Hotchkins,  Salem,  Mass. 
Mr.  Thomas  Carlton,  Boston,     do. 
Mr.  John  Mig-at,  Warren,  R.  I, 
Mr.  Cornelius  Hoy,  Baltimore,  Md. 
Capt.  Jesse  S.  Smith,  Stonington,  Con. 

Mr.  James  Sproson,  New- York. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Wheeler,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Mr  George  Scott,  , . 

Capt.  Matthew  S.  Steel,  Philadelphia,  Penn. 

Mr.  W.  P.  Sevear,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Capt.  James  M'Quilter,  do.       do. 

Mr.*  John  S.  Miller,  do.      do. 


vu 


Mr.  Thomas  Bailey,  Salem,  Mass. 

Mr.  Warren  Humphrey,  Connecticut, 

Mr.  William  Rea,  Boston,  Mass. 
Capt.  Thomas  Hussey,   Hudson,  N.  Y. 
Capt.  James  Bog'gs,   Pliiladelphia,  Penn. 

Capt.  James  Gays,  Virginia. 

Capt.  Thomas  Mumford,  Newport,  R.  I. 

Mr.  Isaac  Dowel,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Mr.  Frederick  G.  Low,  Cape- Ann. 

Mr.  Henry  Bull,  Connecticut- 

Doct.  Benjamin  Mercer,  New-York. 

Mr.  Reuben  Sherman,         '-    Mass. 


THE 


PRISONERS'  MEMOIRS,  Lc 


P HE  warhot.wcrn  the  United  Stales  of  Amcricn 
and  Great-Britain,  which  has  been  so  costly  in 
blood  and  treasure,  and  agonized  the  hearts  of  so 
many  thousands  of  our  fellow-beings,  was  formal- 
ly declared,  by  a  proclamation  issued  by  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  United  States,  in  conformity  with  a 
solemn  act  of  the  supreme  legislature  of  the  na- 
tion, on  the  eighteenth  day  of  June,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
twelve.  The  nations  were,  by  this  act,  at  open 
hostilities,  and  began  to  capture  each  other's 
vessels  upon  the  high  seas,  wherever  found.  I 
myself  happened  to  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  be 
among  the  first  captives  brought  into  England. 
On  our  first  arrival  there,  we  were  all  collected 
from  different  ports,  and  confined  in  different  pri- 
sons. Some  were  sent  to  Chatham,  some  to  Ha- 
moze,  and  others  to  Portsmouth ;  where  a  strict 
examination  took  place  as  to  their  nativity  and 
B 


10 


citizenship.  After  the  examination  the  oflicers 
who  were  entitled  to  their  parole,  (such  as  com- 
manders and  lirst  lieutenants  of  privateers  mount- 
ing fourteen  guns,  commanders  and  first  mates  of 
merchantmen,  non  combatants,  &;c.)  received  it, 
and  were  sent  to  the  little  village  of  Ashburton,  in 
Devonshire,  or  Reading,  in  Berkshire  ;  the  for- 
mer is  situated  about  twenty-six  miles  inland  from 
Plymouth,  and  the  principal  place  of  confinement 
for  paroled  oflicers.  The  town  of  Ashburton  is 
pleasantly  situated  in  a  healthy  and  fertile  part 
of  the  country,  v/here  every  article  of  provision 
is  more  easily  obtained  and  at  a  much  cheaper  rate 
than  in  many  other  parts  of  the  kingdom.  Here 
all  the  officers  on  JDarole  had  their  names  regis- 
tered and  particular  personal  description  taken  of 
them.  They  had  allowed  them  by  the  British 
government  one  shilling  and  six  pence,  which  is 
equal  to  thirty-three  and  a  quarter  cents,  money 
of  the  United  States,  per  day  each  man.  With 
this  small  allowance  great  numbers  of  paroled 
officers  were  compelled  entirely  to  subsist,  for 
having  no  other  dependence  and  no  friends  in  this 
country,  they  were  obliged  to  purchase  clothing, 
board  and  lodging,  and  all  other  necessaries  of 
life,  and  to  make  use  of  every  economy  to  pre- 
vent themselves  from  suffering,  notwithstanding 
the   cheapness  of  provisions,  and  the  facility  tf 


il 

obtaining  tiiein.  They  were  permitted  during 
the  day  to  walk  one  mile  on  the  turnpike  road 
towards  London  or  Plymouth,  and  at  a  certain 
earl 7  hour  every  evening  tlicy  had  to  retire  to 
their  respective  lodgings,  and  there  to  remain  till* 
next  morning  ;  those  were  their  general  restric- 
tions for  all  the  days  in  the  wecic,  except  tvro,  oa 
Vv'hich  every  officer  must  answer  at  a  particular 
place  appointed  by  their  keepers,  in  the  presence 
of  their  agent  or  inspector.  In  this  manner  some 
hundreds  of  ofFiccrs  vrcrc  compelled  to  drag  out 
a  tedious  existence  in  a  state  of  painful  solici- 
tude for  their  country,  their  homes  and  fannlios, 
during  the  greater  part  of  tbo  Icto  v*-ar. 

But  the  condition  of  the  officers  on  parole  was 
enviable  indeed,  when  compared  v/ith  that  of  the 
officers  and  others  not  entitled  to  that  privilege. 
Every  such  person  taken  under  the  flag  of  the 
United  States  werr  «ont  to  oomc  one  of  {.ht-  plcices 
before  mentioned,  an<I  confined  en  beard  pri- 
son ships.  The  greatest  number  were  sent  to 
the  Hector  and  La  Brave,  two  line  of  battle  ship^. 
v.hich  were  unfit  for  his  majesty's  Fervice  at  sea, 
and  Vv'ere  nov/  used  for  the  confinement  of  priso- 
ners of  war.  These  vrere  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  a  lieutenant,  master's  mate,  midshipman, 
and  about  twf^nty  invalid  seamen  ;  there  is  clso  a 
guard  under  the  command  of  a  lieutenant,  ensign, 


12 

and  corporal,  consisting  of  thirty-live  soldiers  to 
each  of  these  shipfe. 

The  Hector  and  La  Brave  lie  about  two  miles 
from  Plymouth,  well  moored  by  chain  moorings. 
Captain  Edward  Pelew,  of  the  royal  navy,the  agent 
for  prisoners  of  war,  resides  at  this  place.  On 
the  reception  of  all  prisoners  into  their  respec- 
live  prison  ships,  they  were  obliged  to  undergo  a 
strict  examination  concerning  their  birth,  place 
of  residence,  and  age;  a  complete  and  minute 
description  of  their  person  in  all  respects  was  ta- 
ken down  in  writing.  After  the  examination, 
there  was  delivered  to  each  man  a  very  coarse 
and  w^orthless  hammock,  v/ith  a  thin  coarse  bed- 
sack,  Vv^th  at  most  not  more  than  three  or  four 
]>oiind3  of  Hocks  or  chopped  rags,  one  thin  coarse 
iind  sleazy  blanket ;  this  furniture  of  the  bed- 
thamber  was  to  last  for  a  year  and  a  half  before 
re  could  draw  utKcre.  Aitor  tbo  distribution  of 
ihe  bedding,  we  were  informed  of  the  rules  and  re- 
strictions which  we  must  strictly  observe.  Eve- 
ry ship  has  a  physician  attached  to  it,  wdio  is  ever 
to  be  on  board,  and  when  any  prisoner  is  sick,  he 
is  to  repair  immediately  to  a  certain  part  of  the 
ship  for  mxcdical  aid  ;  but  seldom  has  he  any  at- 
tention paid  him  till  the  moment  of  dissolution, 
the  doctors  pa3'ing  but  little  attention  to  the  suf- 
fering prisoners,  although  a  prisoner  is  seldom  ©r 


13 

never  suffered  to  expire  on  board ;  for  at  the  mo- 
ment death  seems  inevitably  approaching,  the 
prisoner  is  removed  to  a  ship  lying  near  by,  called 
the  hospital  ship,  where  if  he  happen  to  survive 
the  removal,  he  receives  much  l^etter  treatment 
and  attendance  ;  but  when  once  removed  to  that 
ship,  they  may  bid  adieu  to  their  fellow  prisoners, 
and  most  of  them  to  sublunary  things  :  for  not 
more  than  one  out  of  ten  ever  recovers. 

We  were  then  informed,  that  the  Transport 
Board  had  most  graciously/  and  humayulij.  for  the 
health  and  happiness  of  the  prisoners,  imposed  on 
ihem  the  following  duty  ;  to  keep  clean  the  ship's 
decks  and  hold  ;  to  hoist  in  water,  provisions, 
coal,  and  every  other  article  expended  or  used  in 
the  ship  ;  and  also  to  permit  the  prisoners  to  cook 
their  own  victuals,  which  consisted  of  the  follow- 
ing rations  allowed  by  the  English  government  : 
To  each  man  one  pound  and  a  half  of  very  poor 
coarse  bread,  half  a  pound  of  beef,  including  the 
bone,  one  third  of  an  ounce  of  salt,  and  the  same 
quantity  of  barley,  with  one  or  two  turnips,  per 
man.  These  were  the  rations  for  five  days  in  the 
week  ;  the  other  two  Avere  hsh  days,  the  ra- 
tions for  which  were  one  pound  of  salt  fish,  the 
same  weight  of  potatoes,  and  tlic  u'^uol  c> !lo v.ance 
of  bread. 

B2 


14 

The  confinement,  and  this  scanty  and  meager 
diet  for  men  who ^ Were  brought  up  m  a  land  of 
liberty,  and  ever  used  to  feast  on  the  luscious 
fruits  of  plenty,  socn  brought  on  a  pale  and  sick- 
ly countenan<:e,  a  feeble  and  dejected  spirit,  and  a 
lean,  half  animate  body.  This  bad  state  of  liv- 
ing, I  solemnly  believe,  has  been  the  serious  cause 
of  inducing  many  valuable  citizens  of  the  United 
States  to  enter  the  king's  service,  to  the  great 
injury  of  their  country. 

The  prisoners  are  counted  every  night  as  they 
are  ordered  below  by  the  guard  ;  and  every  mor- 
ning, about  sun-rise,  each  prisoner  is  obhged  to 
"  take  up  his  bed  and  walk ;"  for  he  is  ordered 
to  shoulder  his  hamm.ock  and  go  on  deck,  and  be 
counted  with  it  on  his  shoulder.  He  then  leaves 
his  hammock  on  deck  all  day,  and  has  permission 
to  go  below  or  rem^ain  on  deck,  as  best  suits  his 
convenience. 

No  prisoner  is  permitted  to  hold  any  corres- 
pondence, except  by  unsealed  letters  passing 
through  the  hands  of  the  Board  of  Transport.  No 
boat  is  permitted  to  come  along-side  the  ship,  un- 
less by  permission  of  the  commanding  officer,  and 
then  must  be  strictly  examined  by  the  sentry,  to 
prevent  any  liquor,  newspapers,  or  candles,  from 
coming  among  the  prisoners  ;  these  being  prohi- 


15 


bited  by  the  gracious  and  humane  Board  of  Trans- 
port. 

For  consolation  in  our  present  miserable  con- 
dition, wc  were  informed  that  the  said  honourable. 
Board  had  indulgently  permitted  the  American 
pnt^oncrs  to  establish  and  carry  on  any  branch  of 
manufacture,  except  such  as  netting,  woollen  fa- 
brics, making  straw  hats  and  bonnets,  <Sz;c.  <Sz;c.  ;  or 
rather,  they  prohibited  every  branch  of  manufac- 
tory which  they  were  capable  of  pursuing.  At 
this  time  they  could  have  carried  on  the  making 
of  straw  into  flats  for  bonnets  with  very  conside- 
rable advantage,  as  almost  every  sailor  was  more 
or  less  capable  of  working  at  this  art,  and,  by 
strict  attention  to  the  business,  could  have  earned 
six  or  eight  pence  sterling  per  day  :  but  this  wa/3 
not  permitted,  and  we  considered  this  prohibition 
a  contrivance  of  the  agents  of  government  to  in- 
duce the  prisoners  to  enter  his  majesty's  service. 
Their  situation  was  now  so  abject  and  wretched, 
that  they  were  willing  to  embrace  any  opportu- 
nity where  there  was  the  least  prospect  of  better- 
ing their  condition,  however  repugnant  to  their 
feelings  or  sentiments  ;  and  though  their  country's 
interest  was  ever  nearest  to  their  hearts,  yet, 
through  the  faint  hope  of  ameliorating  their  con- 
dition, and  some  day  or  other  of  returning  to 
their  native  land,  their  wives  and  families,  some  o^ 


10 


less  fortitude  'vvere  induced  to  join  in  arms  against 
their  country.  It  could  not  be  a  crime  ;  for  self- 
preservation  is  the  first  law  of  nature. 

From  the  first  of  our  imprisonment,  which  wa^ 
shortly  after  the  commencement  of  the  war,  pri- 
soners were  constantly  arriving,  and  immediately 
disposed  of  in  one  or  other  of  these  depots  : — 
among  them  v/ere  great  numbers  of  American  sea- 
men who  had  been  delivered  up  from  the  dilFeren* 
ships  of  war  in  the  English  service,  on  board  of 
which  they  had  remained  from  one  to  ten  years. 
and  after  receiving  many  dozen  lashes  at  the  gang- 
way of  the  ships,  were  sent  to  prison  with  the  ap- 
pellation of  "  damned  rebellious  villains,  unfit  for 
his  majesty's  service  I" 

During  the  fall  of  the  year  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  twelve,  until  April  in  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  thirteen,  the  English  had  col- 
lected at  the  following  depots  the  number  herein- 
after mentioned,  who  were  mostly  prisoners  deli- 
vered up  from  ships  of  war,  and  citizens  of  the 
United  States  detained  in  them  for  some  time  be- 
fore. At  Chatham  were  collected  about  nine  hun- 
dred ;  at  Portsmouth,  about  one  hundred  ;  and  at 
Plymouth,  about  seven  hundred.  These  unfortu- 
nate men  had  often  made  application  to  Mr.  Beas- 
ley,  the  agent  for  American  prisoners  of  war,  who 
resided  in  England,  but  were  never  able  to  ob- 


17 

tain  an  auswe^  from  him.  At  this  time,  great 
numbers  of  the  oldest  prisoners  were  completely 
destitute  of  clothing,  and  the  most  active  and 
cleanly  unable  to  avoid  being  covered  Avith  ver- 
min. 

On  the  second  of  April,  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  thirteen,  the  Transport  Board,  appre- 
hending the  escape  of  the  prisoners,  in  conse- 
quence of  their  repeated  threats  to  that  purpose, 
issued  an  order  to  Captain  Pelew,  then  agent  for 
prisoners  at  Plymouth,  to  make  preparalion  for 
removing  all  the  prisoners  then  confiijed  on  board 
of  the  Hector  prison-ship,  at  Plymouth,  to  the 
depot  at  Dartmoor,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  si- 
tuated seventeen  miles  from  Plymouth,  in  the  back 
country. 

These  orders  were  accordingly  made  known  to 
the  prisoners  ;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  third 
of  April,  thoy  woro  ordered  on  deck,  with  their 
hammocks,  baggage,  <SiC.  in  readiness  to  march  to 
a  prison,  the  very  name  of  which  made  the  mind 
of  every  prisoner  "  shrink  back  with  dread,  and 
5tartle  at  the  thought ;"  for  fame  had  made  them 
well  acquainted  with  the  horrors  of  tliat  infernal 
abode,  which  was  by  far  the  most  dreadful  prison 
in  all  England,  and  in  which  it  was  next  to  impos- 
sible for  human  beings  long  to  survive. 


IS 

I'wo  hundred  and  fifty  dejected  and  unhappy 
sufferers,  ah^eady  too  wretched,  were  called,  each 
of  v,-hom  received  a  pair  of  shoes,  and  his  allow- 
ance of  bread  and  salt  fish.  Orders  were  then 
immediately  given,  for  ever}-  man  to  deliver  up 
iiis  bed  and  hammock,  and  to  repair  forthwith  in- 
to the  different  launches  belonging  to  the  ships  of 
war,  which  were  along-side  the  ship,  ready  to  re- 
ceive them.  The  prisoners  entered,  surrounded 
by  the  guards  and  seamen  belonging  to  the  Hec- 
tor and  La  Brave.  We  were  landed  at  New  Pas- 
sage, near  Fiymouth,  and  were  placed  under  the 
guard  of  a  company  of  soldiers,  equal  in  number 
to  the  prisoners  1  Orders  were  then  given  to 
march  at  half  past  ten  in  tlie  morning,  with  a  po- 
sitive injunction  that  no  prisoner  should  step  out 
of,  or  leave  the  ranks,  on  pain  of  instant  death. 
Thus  we  marched,  surrounded  by  a  strong  guard, 
tlirough  a  heavy  rain,  and  o^-er  a  bad  road,  with 
only  our  usual  and  scanty  allowance  of  bread  and 
fish.  We  were  allowed  to  stop  only  once  during 
the  march  of  seventeen  miles. 

We  arrived  at  Dartmoor  late  in  the  after  part 
of  the  day,  and  found  the  ground  covered  with 
snow.  Nothing  could  form  a  more  dreary  pros- 
pect than  that  which  now  presented  itself  to  our 
hopeless  view.     Death  itself,  v/ith  the  hopes  of  an 


19 

hereafter,  seemed  less  terrible  than  this  gloomy 
priso^i. 

The  prison  at  Dartmoor  is  situated  on  the  east 
side  of  one  of  the  highest  and  most  barren  moun- 
tains in  England,  and  is  surrounded  on  all  sides, 
as  far  as  the  eye  can  see,  by  the  gloomy  features 
of  a  black  moor,  uncultivated  and  uninhabited,  ex- 
cept by  one  or  two  miserable  cottages,  just  dis- 
cernible in  an  eastern  view,  the  tenants  of  which 
live  by  cutting  turf  on  the  moor,  and  sellmg  it  at 
the  prison.  The  place  is  deprived  of  every 
thing  that  is  |;leasant  or  agreeable,  and  is  produc- 
tive of  nothing  but  human  woe  and  misery.  Even 
riches,  pleasant  friends  and  liberty  could  not  make 
it  agreeable.  It  is  situated  seventeen  miles  dis- 
tant from  Plymouth,  fourteen  from  the  town  of 
Moorton,  and  seven  from  the  little  village  of  Ta- 
vastock. 

On  entering  this  depot  ''  of  living  death,"  we 
first  passed  through  the  gates,  and  found  our- 
selves surrounded  by  two  huge  circular  walls,  the 
outer  one  of  which  is  a  mAe  in  circumference 
and  sixteen  feet  high ;  the  inner  wall  is  distant 
from  the  outer  thirty  feet,  around  which  is  a  chain 
of  bells  suspended  by  a  wire,  so  that  the  h'f^st 
touch  sets  every  bell  in  motion,  and  alarms  the 
garrison.  On  the  top  of  the  inner  wall  is  placed 
a  guard  at  the  distance  of  eveiy   twenty   feet. 


2@ 

which  frustrates  every  attempt  to  escape,  and  iiir 
stantly  quells  every  disorderly  motion  of  tl^  pri- 
soners. Between  the  two  walls  and  over  the  in- 
termediate space,  are  also  stationed  guards^'  The 
soldiers'  guard  house,  the  turnkey's  office,  and 
many  other  small  buildings,  are  also  within  these 
two  circular  walls.  Likewise  several  large  com- 
modious dwelling-houses,  which  are  occupied  by 
the  captain  of  the  prison,  doctor,  clerks,  turn- 
keys, &;c.  Szc.  Inside  of  the  walls  are  erected 
large  barracks,  capacious  enough  to  contain  one 
thousand  soldiers,  and  also  a  hospital  for  the  re- 
ception of  the  sick.  No  pains  have  been  spared 
to  render  the  hospital  convenient  and  comfortable 
for  the  sick  prisoner.  And  certainly  much  credit 
is  due  to  the  director  of  this  humane  institution, 
whoever  he  may  have  been,  for  the  attention  paid 
to  this  most  important  appendage  of  an  extensive 
prison.  These  last  mentioned  buildings,  and 
several  small  store-houses,  are  enclosed  by  a  third 
wall.  These  three  ranks  of  walls  form  in  this 
direction  a  barrier  w^hich  is  insurmountable. 

Thus  much  for  the  court-yard  of  this  seminary 
of  misery ;  we  shall  next  proceed  to  give  a  de- 
scription of  the  gloomy  mansion  itself.  On  en- 
tering, we  found  seven  prisons  enclosed  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner,  and  situated  (:|tiite  within  all  the 
walls  before  mentioned.     Prisoa  No.  1,  2  and  o, 


21 

ure  built  of  hard,  I'ou^h,  unhewn  stone,  three  ste- 
ries  high,  one  hundred  and  eighty  feet  long  and 
forty  broad  ;  each  of  these  prisons,  on  an  average, 
are  to  contain  fifteen  hundred  prisoners.  There 
is  also  attached  to  the  yard  of  these  prisons  a 
house  of  correction,  called  a  cachot ;  this  is  built 
of  largp  stone,  arched  above  and  floored  with  the 
same.  Into  this  cold,  dark,  and  damp  cell,  the  un- 
happy prisoner  is  cast  if  he  offend  against  the 
rules  of  the  prison,  either  AviUingly  or  inadver- 
tently, and  often  on  the  mos-t  frivolous  pretence. 
There  he  must  remain  for  many  days,  and  often 
weeks,  on  two  thirds  the  usual  allowance  of  food, 
without  a  hammock  or  a  bed,  and  nothing  but  a 
stone  pavement  for  his  chair  and  bed.  These 
three  prisons  are  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the 
enclosure,  as  is  also  the  cachot,  and  separated 
from  the  other  prisons  by  a  wall.  Next  to 
these  is  another.  No.  4,  which  is  equally  as 
large  as  any  of  the  others  ;  this  is  separated 
from  all  the  others  by  a  wall  on  each  side,  and 
stands  in  the  centre  of  the  circular  walls. 

Adjoining  to  this,  are  situated,  in  rotation,  pri- 
sons No.  5.  G,  and  7,  along  the  south  side  of  the 
circular  wall.  To  each  prison  is  attached  a  small 
yard,    Avith    a    constant    run    of    water    passing 

diroush  it. 

C 


22 

After  viewing  this  huge  pile  of  building,  and 
obtaining  what  little  information  we  were  able  at 
this  time,  we  were  informed  that  these  seven  pri- 
sons contained  a  small  family  of  French  people, 
consisting  of  about  eight  thousand,  who  were  al- 
so prisoners  of  war.  Among  these  fluttering, 
ghastly  skeletons,  we  were  directed  to  take  up 
our  abode,  and  distribute  ourselves  as  well  as  we 
could. 

We  received  our  usual  hammock  and  bed,  and 
in  conformity  with  our  orders,  repaired  separately 
to  one  or  other  of  six  of  these  prison?  ;  the  se- 
venth being  allotted  to  those  criminals  who  had 
committed  misdemeanors,  such  as  murder,  lar- 
ceny on  their  fellow-prisoners,  and  other  heinous 
offences,  which  too  frequently  occurred. 

We  entered  the  prisons  ;  but  here  the  heart  of 
every  American  was  appalled.  Amazement  struck 
the  unhappy  victim  ;  for  as  he  cast  his  hopeless 
eyes  around  the  prison,  he  saw  the  water  con- 
stantly dropping  from  the  cold  stone  walls  on  eve- 
ry side,  which  kept  the  floor  (made  of  stone)  con- 
stantly wet,  and  cold  as  ice. 

All  the  prison  floors  were  either  stone  or  ce- 
ment, and  each  story  contained  but  one  apart- 
ment, and  resembled  long  vacant  horse  stables. 
There  were  in  each  story  six  tier  of  joists  for  the 
prisoners   to   fasten   their   hammocks   to.      The 


23 


hammocks  have  a  stick  at  each  end  to  spread 
them  out,  and  are  hung  in  the  manner  of  cots, 
four  or  five  deep,  or  one  above  the  other.  On 
each  side  of  the  prison  is  left  a  vacancy  for  a  pas- 
sage from  one  end  of  the  prison  to  the  other.  We 
were  then  infoj'med  that  the  prisoners  must  be 
counted  out  and  messed,  six  together,  every  morn- 
ing by  the  guards  and  turnkeys. 

During  the  month  of  April  there  was  scarce  a 
day  but  more  or  less  rain  fell.  The  weather 
here  is  almost  constantly  wet  and  foggy,  on  ac- 
count of  the  prison  being  situated  on  the  top  of  a 
mountain,  whose  elevation  is  two  thousand  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  sea.  This  height  is  equal 
to  the  plane  on  which  the  clouds  generally  float 
in  a  storm,  the  atmosphere  not  being  dense 
enough  to  support  heavy  clouds  much  above  that 
height ;  almost  every  one  that  passes  that  way 
envelopes  the  top  of  the  mountain  in  a  thick  fog 
lid  heavy  torrent  of  rain.  In  winter  the  same 
cause  makes  as  frequent  snows  as  rain  in  summer. 
It  is  also  some  degrees  colder  during  the  v^hole 
year  than  in  the  adjacent  country  below.  This 
too  is  occasioned  by  the  great  elevation  of  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  which  is  above  the  atmos- 
phere heated  by  the  reflected  rays  of  the  sun 
upon  the  common  surface  of  the  earth,  and  being 
email  of  itself,   reflects  but  little  heat.      These 


24 

two  causes  combined,  produce  constant  cold  and 
wet  weather. 

Information  was  brought  us  that  all  prisoners  ii^ 
England  were  placed  on  a  naval  establishment,  and 
under  the  direction  of  a  naval  officer.  Capt.  Isaac 
Cotgrave,  of  the  royal  navy,  was  the  agent  for 
pi-isoners  of  war  at  this  depot.  The  Transport 
Board  directed  that  aYnarket  should  be  held  every- 
day, in  front  of  each  prison  yard.  This  market 
was  supplied  with  provisions  by  the  inhabitants  of 
the  adjacq^t  country  ;  twenty  or  thirty  of  w^hom 
came  every  day,  and  furnished  it  with  every  kind 
of  country  produce.  They  were  not  allowed  to 
impose  .on  the  prisoners,  by  demanding  an  exorbi- 
tant price  for  their  produce  ;  the  prices  of  every 
article  were  fixed  by  the  turnkeys  before  they  en- 
tered the  yard,  according  to  the  prices  in  the 
nearest  market-town.  No  person  was  permitted 
to  enter  within  the  first  gate,  without  being  strictly 
examined  as  to  their  business,  and  without  giving 
a  satisfactory  account  of  themselves  ;  if  they  did 
this,  they  were  then  permitted  tc  enter  and  begin 
iheir  trade. 

At  the  market,  the  Fnjnch  prisoners  carry  on  a^ 
great  traffick.       They  buy  and  sell,  and  are,  ap- 
parently, as  happy  as  if  they  were  not  imprisoned. 
But  the  Americans  are  not  so  ; — they  long  for  that 


25 


land  of    liberty,  so  dear  to  them,    and  sigh  foj 
their  distant  home. 

As  this  depot  seems  to  be  the  most  interesting 
scene  of  misery,  we  shall  confine  ourselves  more 
particularly  to  the  events  which  occurred  here  ; 
only  touching,  occasionally,  upon  the  most  im- 
portant events  of  the  few  prisoners  at  the  other 
depots. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  war,  and  pre- 
vious to  April  1813,  a  great  number  of  priso- 
ners had  been  sent  home,  by  exchange.  Numbers 
died,  and  some  entered  the  service  of  Gi^at  Britain. 
The  names  of  those  who  died,  and  those  who  en- 
tered the  service,  is  mentioned  in  the  catalogue 
hereunto  annexed.  About  the  first  of  May,  Capt. 
Cotgrave  gave  orders  to  have  all  the  American 
prisoners  collected  from  the  different  prisons,  and 
transferred  to  prison  No.  4. 

In  this  prison  were  about  nine  hundred  of  the 
most  abject  and  outcast  wretches  that  v/ere  ever 
beheld.  French  prisoners,  too  wicked  and  mali- 
cious to  live  with  their  other  unfortunate  country- 
men :  they  were  literally  and  emphatically  naked  ; 
having  neither  clothing  or  shoes,  and  as  poor  and 
meager  in  flesh  as  the  human  frame  could  bear. — 
Their  appearance  was  really  shocking  to  human 
feeling.  The  mind  cannot  figure  to  itself  any 
thing  in  the  shape  of  men,  which  so  much  resem- 
C2 


26 

bled  the  fabled  ghosts  of  Pluto,  as  these  naked  and 
starved  French  prisoners.  Much  of  the  misery 
and  wretchedness  of  these  creatures  Avas  owins;  to 
their  imprudence  and  bad  conduct. 

These  men  were  now  to  be  our  associates,  and 
we  deprived  of  the  privileges  allowed  heretofore 
to  prisoners  of  w^ar.  As  the  gate  of  this  yard  is 
always  kept  shut,  we  could  have  no  advantage  of 
the  markets,  or  connexion  with  the  other  prisoners  : 
while  the  French  prisoners,  in  the  other  prisons, 
were  allowed  those  benefits. 

The  American  prisoners  now  began  to  experi- 
ence a  new  scene  of  distress  ; — the  little  clothing 
they  had  v»^hen  they  were  taken,  w^as  either  worn 
«3Ut  or  disposed  of  at  a  very  reduced  price,  (not 
more  than  one  tenth  of  the  value,)  to  buy  the  very 
necessary  articles  of  soap  and  tobacco. 

We  remained  in  this  situation,  during  the  month 
9f  May,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirteen, 
close  confined  in  prison  No.  4,  with  the  liberty  of 
that  one  yard.  We  often  demanded  of  Capt.  Cot- 
grave,  the  reason  why  such  distinction  was  made 
between  the  American  and  French  prisoners  ;  but 
Avere  never  able  to  obtain  any  other  reason,  than 
that  his  orders  were  issued  from  the  Transport 
Board  to  do  so.  This  month  we  received  letters  from 
-  our  fellow-prisoners  at  Chatham,  and  those  on 
board  the  prison  ships  at  Plymouth ;  who  inform- 


27 


ed  us  of  every  particular  of  their  situation  at  both 
places  ;  but  tiiey  were  comparatively  well  oft',  when 
compared  with  our  situation.  The  prisoners  at 
Plymouth  informed  us,  that  other  prisoners  arri- 
ved there  daily,  and  that  they  expected  shortly  to 
be  removed,  and  to  participate  with  us  in  the  suf- 
ferings and  misery  of  Dartmoor. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  May,  the  garrison  which 
we  found  here,  was  removed  and  supplied  by  new- 
regiments  of  soldiers.  We  learned,  that  no  regi- 
ment is  stationed  here  more  than  two  or  three 
months  at  a  time.  These  guards  consi^  of  about 
twelve  cr  liftecn  hundred  soldiers,  who  have  been 
guilty  of  some  offence,  disobedience  of  orders,  or 
neglect  of  duty  5  and  are  sent  here  as  a  punish- 
ment. By  these  soldiers  we  were  informed  of 
the  particulars  of  the  actions  of  the  Java  and 
Peacock. 

At  this  time  we  made  known,  in  as  respectful 
a  manner  as  we  could,  all  the  particulars  of  our 
unhappy  situation  to  j\Ir.  Reuben  G.  Beaslcy,  agent 
for  American  prisoners  of  war.  W  e  informed  him 
that  our  allowance  was  too  scanty,  that  the  whole 
day's  allowance  was  scarcely  enough  for  one  meal, 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  prisoners  were  in  a 
state  of  nakedness  ;  and  also,  that  great  numbers 
had  enlisted  out  of  the  prison,  into  the  king's  ser- 
vice,— That  they  had  been  compelled  to  do  it.  in 


28 


hopes  to  better  their  condition,  and  indeed  to  pre- 
sei've  hib.  For,  as  they  were  wlioUy  neglected  by 
the  ageni  of  their  country,  they  saw  no  other  means 
by  which  it  was  possible  to  preserve  existence, — 
or  ever  to  return  to  their  country  ;  as  they  totally 
despaired  of  any  exchange. 

At  the  same  time  we  informed  him,  that  unless 
something  was  done  soon  for  our  relief,  w^e  must  all 
either  (though  reluctantly)  enter  the  service  of 
the  enemy,  or  fall  a  sacrifice  to  famine  and  want. 

We  informed  him  also  of  the  distinction  which 
was  made  between  the  French  and  American  priso- 
ners. The  former  were  allowed  many  privileges 
and  advantages,  which  were  denied  the  latter  ;  and 
that  our  treatment  was  contrary  to  what  we  con- 
sidered the  custom  and  usage  of  civilized  nations 
in  modern  warfare.  That  w^e  w^ere  hurried  into 
the  prison-house  before  dark,  locked  up,  to  remain 
without  any  light  or  fire  till  seven  or  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning. 

If  a  prisoner  had  to  leave  his  hammock,  pent 
necessitatein,  he  was  obliged  to  grope  from  one  end 
of  the  prison  to  the  other,  and  often  could  not  re- 
gain it  during  the  whole  night. 

To  all  these  petitions,  complaints,  and  remon- 
strances, Mr.  Beasley  returned  no  answer,  nor  took 
any  notice  of  them  whatever-,  which,  of  course,  made 
ever)  prisoner  despair  of  any  reUef  from  him. — 


29 


These  letters  could  not  miscarry,  or  be  intercept- 
ed ;  for  WG  had  formed  a  course  of  correspondence 
with  several  very  respectable  mercantile  houses  in 
London,  through  which  our  letters  were  sure  to 
reach  Mr.  Beasley  by  private  conveyance. 

The  month  of  June  commenced  with  deep  dis- 
tress ;  for  disease  was  then  added  to  nakedness 
and  famine  ;  and  we  were  still  more  severely  dealt 
by.  For  Doctor  Dyer,  who  was  head  surgeon  of 
the  Hospital-department,  would  not  permit  an 
American  prisoner  to  be  brought  into  the  Hospi- 
tal, until  his  complaint  was  completely  confirmed, 
and  often  not  until  he  was  so  weak,  and  reduced 
so  low,  that  it  would  take  four  men  to  remove  him 
on  his  hammock.  For  this  conduct,  he  justified 
himself  by  saying,  that  he  had  been  acquainted 
with  the  impositions  of  the  Americans  during  the 
revolutionary  war,  and  that  these  impositions  were 
not  to  be  played  off  on  him  any  more. 

A  moment's  reflection  must  have  convinced  him, 
that  it  was  impossible  for  these  men  not  to  be  sick, 
in  their  starved,  naked,  and  wretched  condition  ; 
sleeping  in  a  prison,  whose  walls  were  constantly 
wet  and  cold,  occasioned  by  the  constant  rainy, 
foggy,  and  damp,  v/eather  on  this  mountain. 

But  he  refused  to  admit  the  American  prisoners 
into  the  Hospital,  because,  he  said,  such  numbers 
would  breed  every  kind  of  pestilence  and  disease 


30 


among  the  French  prisoners.  We  attributed  these 
evils  to  the  shameful  and  criminal  neglect  of  the 
Agent  of  American  prisoners,  whose  conduct  de- 
serves the  severest  censure  of  every  prisoner,  and 
requires  a  strict  and  impartial  investigation  by  the 
authority  of  his  country. 

From  the  first  to  the  fifteenth  of  May,  we  were 
every  day  called  out  of  the  prison  and  counted,  to 
see  if  any  remained  in  prison.  The  soldiers  then 
entered  the  prison, and  searched  every  hammock;  if 
they  found  any  prisoner,  he  was  hastened  out  into 
the  yard,  though  they  were  often  found  so  v/eak 
and  feeble,  that  it  required  assistance  to  enable 
them  to  walk. 

The  guards  discharged  this  duty  with  great  re- 
luctance ;  their  feelings  often  revolted,  when  com- 
pelled to  do  this  unkind  office,  and  though  accus- 
tomed to  scenes  of  distress,  were  very  sensibly 
touched  at  the  miserable  situation  of  these  their 
fellow  beings. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  May,  we  received  letters 
from  the  other  depots,  and  were  informed  that 
there  were  seven  hundred  prisoners  at  Plymouth, 
on  board  the  Hector,  which  was  so  much  crowded, 
that  Captain  Pelew,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  and  princi- 
pal agent  of  the  Board,  had  received  orders  from 
the  Board,  to  remove  the  prisoners  to  other  depots, 
cither  to  that  of  Chatham,  Dartmoor,  or  Stapleton, 


31 

\\liich  is  near  Bristol.  This  last  place  was  lixed 
on  by  the  Board  as  a  necessary  precaution  to  pre- 
vent any  disturbance,  which  was  apprehended 
might  arise,  should  too  many  American  prisoners 
be  confined  in  one  place. 

Accordingly,  on  the  twenty-eighth,  Captain  Pe- 
lew  ordered  two  hundred  and  fifty  to  be  landed 
from  the  Hector,  and  marched  to  Dartmoor.  They 
arrived  there  on  the  same  day,  and  after  going 
through  the  same  manoeuvre  as  the  first  draft,  they 
were  committed  to  No.  4.  These,  together  with 
the  former  draft,  made  four  hundred  and  seventy 
Americans,  and  seven  hundred  naked  outcast 
French,  all  intermixed  in  one  prison. 

Care  was  taken  to  keep  the  yard  of  this  prison 
always  locked,  to  prevent  us  from  going  to  mar- 
ket. By  tliis  means,  all  w(^btaincd  from  the 
market  came  through  the  haneR  of  the  French  pri- 
soners in  the  other  prisons,  who  obliged  us  to  pay 
twenty-five  per  cent,  above  the  market  price  for 
all  we  had.  At  this  time,  about  thirty  were  mis- 
sing out  of  the  number,  some  dead,  and  others  had 
enlisted  into  the  king's  service. 

On  the  twenty-ninth,  fifty  more  American  pri- 
soners were  transported  from  on  board  the  Hec- 
tor, in  a  ship  of  war,  round  to  Chatham.  Two 
only  at  a  time  were  permitted  to  come  on  deck  ; 
the  others  were  compelled  to  remain  below,  with- 


out  hamtnock,  led,  or  blanket.  I  lea'^'e  the  reader 
to  judge  whether  this  measure  arose  from  wanton 
cruelty  in  those  immediately  concerned,  or  whe- 
ther it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  prevent  their 
escape,  or  rising  and  taking  tiie  ship,  which  had 
her  whole  crew  on  board. 

On  the  thirlledi,  two  hundred  prisoners  were 
ordered  to  go  ashore,  who  accordingly  made  them- 
selves ready,  and  landed  at  New  Passage,  under  a 
guard  of  seamen  and  marines.  Here  they  were 
received  by  a  guard  of  soldiers,  consisting  of  two 
liundi<?d  and  fifty,  who  were  to  convey  them  on 
fool  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  miles  to  Staple- 
ton,  within  a  few  miles  of  Bristol. 
.  Stapleton  is  a  pleasant  situation,  and  is  a  fine 
healthy  country  ;  but  the  fatigue  of  the  journey, 
the  restrictions  and  inconvenience  to  which  the 
prisoners  'were  subjected,  presented  to  them  a 
melancholy  prospect. 

At  the  commencement  of  their  journey,  they 
were  provided  with  a  shilling  (twenty-two  and  a 
half  cents)  per  day,  for  their  travelling  expenses. 
-*.  >?This  v/as  ail  tiie  allowance  made  them  to  purchase 
food,  drink,  and  lodging  ;  and  they  were  to  per- 
form the  Vvhole  journey  in  eight  days.  They  were 
also  particularly  enjoined  not  to  leave  the  ranks 
on  p'a;n  of  death,  and  the  guard  had  orders  to 
despatch  any  prisoner  who  should  attempt  to  es- 


33 

cape.  The  particulars  of  their  march,  their  arr- 
val  at  Stapleton,  an  J  treatment  at  that  place,  will 
be  mentioned  hereafter. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  two  hundred  more  were  or- 
dered from  on  board  the  Hector,  to  march  and 
share  with  us  the  miseries  of  Dartmoor.  They 
were  landed  as  usual,  and  marched  under  a  strong 
guard  to  that  mountain  of  wretchedness,  and  af- 
ter passing  through  the  usual  forms  at  their  arri- 
val, were  received  into  Prison  No.  4,  and  might, 
justly  have  exclaimed,  in  the  language  of  an  emi- 
nent poet,  "  Hail,  horrors  !  hail,  thou  profoundest 
hell  I  receive  thy  new  possessor."  For  every  one 
ordered  to  this  prison,  counted  himself  lost. 

On  the  third  of  July,  another  draft  of  prison- 
ers, consisting  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty, 
were  taken  from  the  Hector,  and  sent  to  Staple- 
ton,  under  the  usual  guard,  allowance,  and  re- 
strictions. 

The  fourth  of  July,  the  birth-day  of  our  nation, 
had  now  arrived.  The  American  prisoners,  feel- 
ing that  fire  of  patriotism,  and  that  just  pride  and 
honour,  which  fills  the  bosom  of  every  American, 
when  that  great  day  of  jubilee  arrives,  roused  all 
their  drooping  spirits,  and  prepared  to  celebrate 
it  in  a  manner  becoming  their  situation.  We  had 
b.^  some  means  obtained  two  American  standards  ; 
and  being  upward  of  six  hundred  in  number,  we 
D 


34  f 

divided  into  two  columns,  and  displayed  our  flags 
at  each  end  of  the  prison.     Of  the  propriety  of 
the  proceedings,  I  leave  the  reader  to  judge.     We 
were,  however,  resolved  to  defend  them  till  the 
last  moment :    but  Captain  Cotgrave,  either  from 
a  determination  to  depress  our  spirits  as  much  as  • 
possible,  that  we  might  the  more  readily  be  indu- 
ced to  enter  the  service  of  the  king,  or  that  an 
enemy's  flag  should  not  be  hoisted  in  their  coun- 
try, ordered  the  turnkeys  to  enter  the  prison-yard, 
and  take  the  colours  from  us.     We  returned  him 
an  answer,  that  the  day  was  the  birth-day  of  free- 
dom, and  the  anniversary  of  our  nation ;  and  that 
he  would  confer  on  us  a  particular  favour,  if  he 
•would  permit  us  to  enjoy  it  with  a  decorum  and 
propriety  suited  to  our  situation  as  prisoners  of 
war.      We  added  this  arrogant  condition,  that  if 
he  should  persist  in  attempting  to  take  that  flag 
which  we  should  ever  respect,  in  whatever  coun- 
try we  were,  he  must  abide  by  the  consequences. 
Captain  Cotgrave,  being  irritated  at  this  haughty 
and  independent  language,  ordered  the  guard  into 
the  prison-yard  to  take  the  standards  from  us. 
An  obstinate  resistance  was  made.     After  some 
time  spent  in  fighting  for  the  flags,  the  guard  ob- 
tained one  :    the  prisoner*  bore  ofl*  the  other  in 
triumph,  and  secured  it.     The  remainder  of  the 
day  was  spent  in    harmony  and  quietness.      At 


35 

evening,  when  the  guards  came  as  usual  to  turn 
us  into  the  prison,  a  dispute  arose  upon  the  piti- 
ful revenge  sought  for  in  depriving  the  prisoners 
^  of  their  flag.  This  soon  grev/  into  an  afiray  ;  the 
^  guards  fired  upon  the  prisoners,  and  wounded 
two,  which  ended  the  affray. 

From  the  disturbance  on  the  evening  of  the 
fourth,  nothing  remarkable  tooli:  place,  the  priso- 
ners being  generally  tolerable  quiet  and  peace- 
able till  the  tenth,  when  a  dispute  arose  between 
the  French  and  American  prisoners  in  the  yard  of 
•  No.  4  ;  the  dispute  was  quite  warm,  and  pervaded 
nearly  all  the  prisoners  of  both  nations,  each  of 
whom  espoused  the  cause  of  his  fellow  prisoner. 
Things  were  not  pushed  to  extremities  this  even- 
ing, the  hour  to  turn  in  prevented  their  further 
progress  ;  but  animosities  had  not  subsided.  At 
this  time  the  French  prisoners  occupied  the  two 
upper  stories  of  prison  No.  4  ;  they  consisted  of 
about  nine  hundred  outcasts  from  the  other  pri- 
sons, as  we  had  occasion  to  mention  before. 
They  had  during  the  night,  with  malice  prepense, 
concerted  a  plan  to  massacre  the  Americans. 
With  this  design,  they  had  provided  themselves 
with  knives,  clubs,  ston^es,  staves,  and  every  kind 
of  wcopon  thoy  could  obtain. 


36  • 

Thus  armed,  they  had  managed  to  be  in  thf; 
yard  first  in  the  morning,  and  arrayed  themselves 
to  give  battle  as  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of 
Americans  should  come  out.  Accordingly,  when 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  had  entered  the 
yard,  this  group  of  naked  malignity  began  the 
attack  with  desperate  fierceness  ;  the  Americans, 
unsuspicious  of  an  attack,  were  of  course  unarm- 
ed, and  at  first  could  make  no  resistance ;  but  after 
recovering  from  the  surprise  which  so  sudden  an 
attack  had  created,  they  made  an  attempt  to  ral- 
ly -y  but  the  Frenchmen  cutting  ofi"  their  retreat 
into  the  prison  and  preventing  those  within  from 
joining  or  rendermg  any  assistance*  soon  caused 
the  Americans  to  fall  a  prey  to  their  superior 
«number.     Before   the  guards  could  interfere  to 

were  mostly  stabbed  or  knocked  down  with  hea- 
vy stones,  and  mangled  in  a  most  shocking  man- 
ner. What  would  have  been  the  issue,  had  not 
the  guards  entered,  and  by  charging  on  both  par- 
ties  put  a  stop  to  the  battle,  is  difficult  to  tell. 
On  examining  the  wounded,  fortunately  none 
were  killed  j  it  appeared  that  about  twenty  on 
both  sides  were  badly,  and  many  others  slightly 
wounded.  The  former  were  taken  to  the  hospi- 
tal, and  though  apparently  dangerous,  in  a  short 
time  all  recovered.     Captai#Cotgrave  immedi«     t 


ately  informeJ  the  Board  of  Transport  of  this  un- 
happy event ;  but  painted  it  in  such  dark  colours 
on  the  side  of  the  Americans,  that  the  Board  gave 
answer,  that  the  Americans  were  totally  different 
from  all  other  men,  and  imfit  to  live  in  any  so- 
ciety. "  If  the  household  be  devils,  what  is  the 
master  of  the  house  V  Did  not  the  Americans 
descend  from  England  ? 

The  yard  of  No.  4  was  ordered  to  be  divided, 
which  v/as  done  by  a  wall  fifteen  feet  high,  which 
cut  off  all  communication  with  the  Americans,  and 
their  late  meager  associates.  This  act,  tliough 
it  seemed  to  have  been  done  to  injure  the  Ameri- 
cans, certainly  created  no  regret ;  for  instead  of 
doing  them  an  injury,  it  was  a  great  relief  to  be 
disencumbered  of  that  outcast  tribe. 

A  spark  of  momentary  joy  may  burst  through 
the  darkest  clouds  of  grief,  and  hope  for  a  mo- 
ment make  us  forget  our  miseries.  On  the  twen- 
ty-ninth of  this  month.  Captain  Cotgrave  received 
orders  to  remove  one  hundred  and  twenty  Ameri- 
cans from  this  prison  to  Chatham,  which  was  to 
be  the  complement  of  a  cartel  ship  then  lying  at 
that  place  ;  this  embrace--!  the  greater  part  of  the 
prisoner.^  captured  before  January  1813.  There 
remained  of  those  captured,  before  and  after  that 
time,  1  i'09  at  Chatham,  400  at  Stapleton,  and  a 

few  less  than  500^  at  Dartmoor,   some  on  board 
D2 


38 

the  prison  ships,  and  a  number  of  officers  on  parok 
at  Ashburton.  The  greater  part  of  these  had  been 
'lehvered  up  from  ships  of  war. 

At  the  close  of  this  month,  forty-five  were 
found  to  have  entered  the  service  of  the  enemy, 
and  fifteen  had  died  at  this  place,  seven  or  eight 
at  Chatham,  and  not  one  at  Stapleton. 

At  the  commencement  of  August,  we  found 
ourselves  limited  and  very  much  straitened  in  our 
regulations.  We  were  not  permitted  to  go  out  of 
the  yard.  A  more  alarming  sc^ne  of  distress 
than  any  we  had  before  experienced,  now  pre- 
sented itself  before  us,  and  death  seemed  to  be 
ihe  inevitable  lot  of  every  man. 

The  King  of  Terrors  daily  reached  forth  his 
inexorable  hand,  and  removed  the  sufferer  fronl  the 
pale  of  this  clay  tenement ;  for  the  small-pox  had 
got  among  the  prisoners,  and  its  ravages  wei'e  so 
alarming,  that  every  prisoner  expected  each  day 
would  be  his  last ;  for  numbers  died  daily. 

The  prisoners  who  remained  able,  collected 
themselves  together,  and  formed  a  committee  of  cor- 
respondence, who,  by  bribing  the  guards,  convey- 
ed letters  daily  to  Mr.  Beasley  ;  particularly  de- 
scribing their  situation,  that  they  were  almost  na- 
ked, and  defrauded  by  the  Contractor  of  half 
their  rations,  which  before  were  but  one  third 
enough.  That  the  small-pox  had  got  among  them 


35 

and  numbers  died  daily — that  they  were  covered 
with  a7iimalcula,  and  unless  he  could  do  something 
for  their  relief,  they  must  all  perish  together. 

To  these  complaints  he  paid  no  kind  of  atten- 
tion, neither  came  to  see  whether  they  were  true 
or  false,  nor  eent  any  answxr  either  written  or 
verbal. 

The  reader  can  easily  figure  to  himself  what 
must  have  been  our  feelings,  when  five  hundred 
men,  closely  confined  in  one  apartment,  with  that 
mortal  epidemick  among  them  without  any  assis- 
tance, or  possibility  of  escape. 

The  evil  must  lie  some  where  ;  we  w  ere  in  doubt 
whether  to  beHeve  it  was  the  will  of  the  general 
government,  of  the  people  at  large  of  this  country, 
or  w^hether  it  was  not  entirely  the  fault  of  our 
Agent,  in  not  seeing  that  all  the  officers  in  whose 
immediate  care  we  were,  acted  the  honest  part  in 
the  performance  of  those  duties,  which  both  this 
government  and  that  of  the  United  States  had  in- 
trusted to  them.  It  was  not  a  general  thing,  and 
the  evil  was  near  at  hand.  The  prisoners  at  Ha- 
lifax fared  well ;  they  did  not,  nor  could  not,  com- 
plain ;  prisoners  in  other  places  in  England  were 
tolerably  well  provided  for. 

After  so  many  fruitless  applications  to  our  agent, 
we  despaired  of  any  relief  from  that  quarter,  and 
then  made  application  to  Capt.  CotgravCj  and  de- 


40 

manded  of  him,  v/liat  provisions  the  government 
of  England  made  for  prisoners  of  war,  when  ne- 
glected by  their  own  government.  He  gave  us 
every  opportunity  to  search  out  the  fault,  by  pro- 
ducing the  following  printed  rules  and  regulations,, 
made  by  the  T  ransport  Board. 

"  The  honourable  Transport  Board  have  made 
arrangements  with  certain  Agents  or  Contractors., 
to  supply  all  prisoners  of  war,  as  follows  : 

Each  prisoner  to  receive  per  day,  for  five  days 
in  the  week,  one  and  a  half  pounds  of  coarse 
brown  bread  5  one  half  pound  of  beef,  including 
the  bone  ;  one  third  of  an  ounce  of  barley  ;  the 
same  quantity  of  salt  ;  one  third  of  an  ounce  of 
onions  ;  and  one  pound  of  turnips.  The  residue 
of  the  week,  the  usual  allowance  of  bread  ;  one 
pound  of  pickled-fish,  and  just  a  sufiicient  quanti- 
ty of  coals  to  cook  the  same.  These  to  be  served 
out  daily  by  the  Contractors." 

We  watched  the  Contractor,  and  found  he  weigh- 
ed all  the  articles  at  once,  neat  weight ;  and  saw 
him  scrimp  the  weight,  to  fill  his  pocket  out  of  the 
})risoners'  bellies. 

On  beef  days,  the  whole  is  thrown  into  a  large 
copper,  when  it  is  sufficiently  boiled,  the  bone  is 
taken  out,  and  each  mess,  consisting  of  six,  re- 
ceives twenty-seven  ounces  of  beef,  and  o;ie  gal- 
lon and  one  pint  of  soup. 


41 

On  the  fish  days,  every  mess  boiled  their  pota- 
toes and  fish  in  a  net  made  of  rope-yarn,  that  they 
might  have  it  separately  to  themselves  ;  after  it 
was  boiled,  it  was  taken  up  in  wooden  buckets, 
with  which  each  mess  were  provided  ;  and  each 
prisoner,  being  also  furnished  with  a  wooden 
spoon,  sets  round  the  bucket,  on  the  wet  floor,  and 
makes  a  fierce  attack. 

After  making  these,  and  some  other  demands, 
which  we  considered  ourselves  entitled  to,  most 
of  which  were  immediately  granted,  but  some  de- 
layed, as  we  shall  note  hereafter,  our  sufferings 
were  somewhat  relieved. 

Could  not  these  have  been  removed  by  our 
Agent  long  before  ?  We  find  but  few  men  so 
honest  that  they  do  not  need  looking  to  sometimes 
i,'y  these  who  are  interested  in  their  honesty. — 
These  Contractors  would  have  been  as  honest  as 
many  other  men  with  sharp  looking  after.  Was 
it  not,  then,  the  duty  of  Mr.  Beasiey  to  sec  that 
the  prisoners  had  what  the  government  of  England 
allowed  them  ?  If  it  was  not,  what  was  his  duty  ? 
Was  he  sent  there,  as  the  log  of  wood  in  the  fable 
was  sent  by  Jupiter  into  the  pond,  to  be  god  for 
the  frogs  ? 

We  found,  by  the  printed  regulations  delivered 
asby  Capt.  Cotgrave,  the  government  allowed  each 
prisoner  a  hammock,  one  blanket,  gne  horse-rrs;. 


42 

unci  a  bed,  containing  four  pounds  of  flocks  ;  thesi" 
articles  too  were  to  serve  us  tv/o  years.  By  the 
same  regulations,  the  prisoners  were  to  receive  for 
clothing,  every  eighteen  months,  one  yellow 
round-about  jacket,  one  pair  of  pantaloons,  and  a 
waistcoat  of  the  same  materials,  as  the  government 
of  England  allow  for  their  soldiers  ;  and  one  pair 
of  shoes  and  one  shirt,  every  nine  months.  The 
shirt,  though  coarse,  v/as  a  change  which  we  had 
not  had  for  a  long  time  before.  All  these  we  de- 
manded and  received  ;  we  also  received  a  v/oollcn 
cap,  which  was  to  serve  us  eighteen  months. 

I  cannot  leave  this  subject  without  some  little 
description  of  several  of  the  articles  of  clothing, 
I  w^ll  begin  with  the  cap,  and  take  them  in  their 
natural  order,  from  head  to  foot. 

The  cap  was  wooli^n,  about  an  inch  thick,  and 

seemed  to  have  been  spun  in  a  rope-walk,   but 

much  coarser  than  common  rope-yarn.   The  jacket 

was  not  large  enough  to  meet  around  the  smallest 

of  us,  although  reduced  to  mere  skeletons  by  such 

continued  fasting  •,  the  sleeves  came  about  half  v/ay 

down  the  arm,  and  the  hand  stuck  out  like  a  spade  : 

the  waistcoat  was  short  5  it  would  not  meet  before, 

nor  down  to  the  pantaloons ;    thus  leaving  a  space 

between  of  three  or  four  inches  ;  the  pantaloons,. 

which  were  as  tight  as  our  skin  itself,    came  down 

to  the  middle  of  the  shin.      The  shoes,  which  v/As 


4?  ^ 

the  pedestal  for  all  the  ornamsnts  above,  were 
made  of  list,  interwoven  and  fastened  to  pieces  of 
wood  an  inch  and  a  half  thick.  The  figure  we  made 
in  this  dress  was  no  common  one. 
*'  Spcctatum  ad/nisai  risum  tencatis  amici  ?"  Hor.  A.  P. 
"  My  friends,  Avere  you  admitted  to  see  this  sight, 
could  you  keep  from  laughing  ?"  When  you  see 
us  tackled,  and  put  upon  runners — skeletons  as 
we  were. 

By  the  regulations  handed  us,  we  also  found 
that  the  Board  allowed  a  sweeper  to  every  hun- 
dred men,  to  sweep  and  keep  clean  the  prison, 
who  was  to  be  taken  from  among  the  prisoners, 
and  allowed  by  the  government  three  pence  per 
day ;  and  one  out  of  every  two  hundred  was  al- 
lowed four  j>ence  halfpenny  a  day  for  cooking. 
In  like  manner,  a  barber  had  three  pence  ;  and 
the  nurses  in  the  hospital,  six  pence  a  day.  All 
these  offices  were  occupied  by  Frenchmen,  as  was 
also  the  employments  in  the  mechanic  arts  at  six 
pence  per  day. 

During  this  month  great  numbers  died  of  the 
small-pox,  and  some  of  other  diseases.  Several 
entered  the  king's  service.  Suspicions  had  ari- 
sen, that  several  taken  in  arms  against  Great-Bri- 
tain, were  British  subjects  ;  they  were  conse- 
quently taken  out,  and  charged  with  having  com- 
mitted high   treason.     That,  they  were  taken  in 


44 

arms  against  Great-Britain,  was  not  denied  ;  but 
that  they  were  iier  subjects,  which  was  the  most 
essential  part  of  ti\e  charge,  couid  not  be  proved  • 
they  were  consequently  acquitted,  and  remanded 
to  prison. 

We  had  but  one  clear  day  during  the  whole 
month  of  August. 

September  commenced,  and  we  remaine'd  in  the 
situation  just  described.  The  prisoners  continued 
v^ery  sickly. 

Men,  otherwise  commonly  honest,  when  redu- 
ced to  extreme  necessity,  naturally  resort  to  the 
commission  of  crimes.     It  is  a  maxim  strikingly 
true,  that  '"  hunger  will   break  through  a  stone 
wall ;"  and  it  is  equally  true,  that  it  will  break 
through  all  moral  obligation.     Honesty  and  inte- 
grity are  but  mere  chimeras  in  dire  necessity. — 
Such  was  our  situation,  that  it  resembled  more  a 
state  of  nature  than  a  civilized  society.      Petty 
larcenies  were  daily  committed  among  the  prison- 
ers ;  brothers  and  the  most  intimate  friends  steal- 
ing from   each   other.      To    provide   a  remedy 
against  this  evil,  we  appointed  a  legislative  body, 
to  form  a  code  of  laws  for  the  punishment  of  all 
such  misdemeanors.     A  tribunal  was  also  formed 
to  try  and  convict  all  criminals  according  to  law 
and  evidence.      Many  were  tried,  found  guilty, 
and  sentenced  to  receive  ftventy-four  lashes  equal- 


4^ 


ly  as  severe  as  is  given  at  the  gangway  of  a  maa- 
©f-war  ship. 

To  show  the  force  of  habit,  though  it  is  a  vi- 
cious one,  we  will  give  the  reader  a  striking  ex- 
ample. Some  of  the  prisoners  were  so  attached 
to  chewing  tobacco,  that  they  sold  all  their  day's 
allowance  of  beef  to  the  French  at  the  gate,  to 
purchase  one  chew.  They  sometimes  sold  this  al- 
lowance to  buy  soap  enough  to  wash  one  shirt, 
but  this  was  only  enduring  one  evil  to  remedy  a 
worse. 

By  letters  received  from  our  fellow  prisoners 
on  board  :he  Crowned  Prince,  and  the  Nassau, 
prison  ships  at  Chatham,  we  received  information 
that  the  Americans  were  distributed  among  the 
French  prisoners  on  board  the  several  different 
■ships  at  that  place,  and  very  severely  used ;  that 
they  had  vainly  addressed  Mr.  Beasley,  and  that 
several  had  died  and  numbers  entered  the  British 
•service. 

By  letters  received  from  Stapleton,  we  were  in- 
formed ot  the  particulars  of  their  march  from  Ply- 
mouth, which  we  promised  to  give  the  reader  in  a 
former  part  of  this  work.  The  reader  will  re- 
member, that  at  the  commencement  of  their  jour- 
ney, they  were  allowed  a  shilling  a  day  for  travel- 
ling expenses,  and  on  their  way,  they  had  to  pay 
three  pence  a  night  to  lodge  in  a  barn,  or  some 
E 


46 

public  building,  on  straw  ;  as  they  were  allowed 
a  shilling  onl}-,  this  took  one  quarter  of  the 
whole.  With  much  ado  they  reached  Stapleton  ; 
they  found  the  prison  at  that  place  well  con- 
structed for  the  convenience  of  the  prisoners, 
within  a  short  distance  of  the  city  of  Bristol; 
w^hich  is  the  third  city  in  England,  and  situated  in 
Somersetshire,  at  the  conflux  of  the  river  Avon, 
with  the  small  stream  of  the  Froom,  about  ten 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Severn;  these,  and 
several  other  small  tributary  streams,  running 
through  a  fertile  country,  bring  into  market  all 
kinds  of  provisions  and  fruits  common  to  the 
country,  which  are  sold  at  a  much  cheaper  rate 
than  at  most  other  places  in  the  kingdom.  From 
these  sources,  the  market  at  Stapleton,  which  is 
kept  every  day  at  the  prison,  is  supplied  with  all 
kinds  of  market  produce.  On  their  arrival  they 
found  five  thousand  French  prisoners.  There 
are  three  prisons  enclosed  and  garrisoned  injfche 
same  manner  as  those  at  Dartmoor  ;  they  were 
distributed  among  the  French  prisoners  in  the 
different  prisons.  They  had  also  written  to  Mr, 
Beasley  several  times,  and  informed  him,  that  their 
situation  was  bad,  although  much  better  than  that 
at  Dartmoor,  and  required  his  attention.  But 
lie  was  determined  to  take  no  notice.  They 
therefore  concluded,  that  no  arrangement  was  to 


47 

be  made  for  their  exchange,  or  that  any  assistance 
was  to  be  offered  from  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  made  necessity  an  excuse  for  enter- 
ing the  service  of  the  enemy  of  their  country ; 
which  many  did  at  that  place. 

How  far  this  is  a, crime,  when  we  consider  the 
quo  animo  ?  I  shall  take  this  opportunity  to  show 
what  is  the  custom  of  nations,  and  what  appears 
to  be  the  law  of  nature.  It  is  said,  "  If  a  person 
be  under  circumstances  of  actual  force  and  con- 
straint, through  a  well-grounded  apprehension  of 
injury  to  his  life  or  person,  this  fear,  or  compul- 
sion, will  excuse  his  even  joining  with  either  rebels 
or  enemies  in  the  kingdom,  provided  he  leaves 
them  whenever  he  hath  a  safe  opportunity." 

Now  to  return  to  Dartmoor.  At  a  time  when 
the  prisoners  had  despaired  of  any  relief,  and  be- 
gan to  reconcile  themselves  to  their  hard  fate, 
they  were  very  agreeably  surprised  to  hear  that 
Mr.  Reuben  G.  Beasley  had  condescended  to  visit 
them,  and  then  waited  at  the  gate  for  admittance. 
The  idea,  that  their  deliverer  had  come,  diffused  a 
general  joy  through  the  whole  prison,  and  "  light- 
ed up  a  smile  in  the  aspect  of  woe."  The  sol- 
diers and  guards  were  ordered  into  the  prison,  and 
turned  out  every  man,  both  sick  and  well  ;  over- 
hauled the  hammocks,  swept  the  prison,  and  open- 
ed  the   window-shutters  :  all  filih  was  removed' 


48 

and  every  thing  made  clean,  for  the  first  time 
since  our  arrival.  The  guards  v/ere  then  station- 
ed at  the  door,  to  prevent  any  prisoner  from  go- 
ing in,  to  have  any  communication  with  the  Agent ; 
we  were  told,  that  no  man  could  speak  to  him, 
or  have  any  communication  with  him  whatever. 
At  three  o'clock,  the  entrance  of  Mr.  Beasley  v/as 
announced  by  the  turnkeys.  We  arranged  our- 
selves in  the  yard,  in  anxious  expectation  of  the 
glad  tidings  he  might  bring.  He  appeared,  at- 
tended with  his  clerks,  the  clerks  of  the  prison, 
and  a  very  numerous  train  of  soldiers.  As  he 
entered  the  yard  of  the  prison,  we  presented  a 
frightful  appearance,  in  our  yellow  uniform,  wooden 
shod,  and  meager,  lantern-jaws.  He  felt  the  sight, 
and  seemed  much  surprised  at  the  group.  We 
stood  in  silent  expectation ;  he  moved  along  to  the 
prison  ;  but  how  were  our  feelings  damped  at  thi^ 
moment !  when  we  expected  from  him  the  lan- 
guage of  consolation  and  rehef,  he  only  uttered, 
in  a  careless  tone  to  his  clerks,  "  that  he  did  not 
think  that  the  number  had  been  so  great !" 

He  entered,  and  cast  his  eyes  around  the  cold 
wet  walls  of  the  prison,  and  seemed  to  say,  with  a 
shrug  of  his  shoulders,  "  I  am  glad  that  it  is  not  I 
that  is  to  live  here."  When  he  returned,  we  were 
determined  to  have  some  conversation  with  him. 
We   therefore   collected   round    him,    demanded 


49 

what  arrangements  were  made  for  our  relief, 
whether  we  must  expect  to  remain  in  our  present 
condition?  Telling  him,  that  if  we  must,  that 
we  could  not  long  survive  ;  and  presenting  him 
with  a  list  of  names  of  those  who  had  already  en- 
tered the  king's  service  ;  and  telling  him  all  the 
particulars  of  oui  distress.  He  then  opened  his 
mouth,  and  said,  he  had  no  power  to  do  any 
thing,  nor  any  funds  to  do  with ;  but  he  would 
do  his  endeavour.  Wc  asked  him  the  cause  of  so 
great  a  difference  in  the  treatment  of  the  prisoners 
here  and  at  Halifax  ?  There  they  had  all  the  ne- 
cessaries and  conveniences  of  life  ;  here  we  had 
none  of  them.  We  asked  him  to  whom  we  should 
apply  for  relief  in  future  ?  We  told  him  we  had 
been  to  great  expense,  heretofore,  and  much  trou- 
ble, in  conveying  letters  to  him,  while  he  had  not 
thought  fit  to  answer.  He  said  the  ex<^hange  of 
prisoners  was  stopped  for  the  present  year,  and 
that  we  could  not  expect  to  have  our  condition 
altered.  With  these  unwelcome  observations,  he 
went  immediately  out  of  the  gates,  and  left  us  to 
all  the  wretchedness  of  despair. 

We  returned  into  the  prison,  lamenting  our  fate;. 
Some  cursed  the  day  they  were  born  ;  some,  the 
day  of  their  captivity  ;  some  attributed  all  their 
sufferings  to  the   inattention  of  i  ie  Agent,    and 

others,  to  the  government  oi  the  United  Stat«s. 
E2 


50 


Wp  retired  to  our  hammocks,  and  gave  vent  to  our 
feelings  in  sighs  and  tears. 

The  thought  that  we  must  forego  all  the  endear- 
ments of  life,  and  perish  together,  in  a  foreign 
€ountry,  among  our  enemies,  was  too  much  for  our 
feelings  to  bear.  The  groans  of  the  disconsolate 
and  sick  filled  the  whole  prison.  Our  Agent  not 
empowered  to  act,  and  without  funds.  We  had 
now  only  to  look  to  heaven,  whose  will  it  was  to 
fering  us  to  this  state,  and  through  whose  mercj 
alone  we  could  hope  to  find  relief. 

The  winter  was  fast  approaching,  and  the  cold 
upon  this  mountain  was  very  severe.  The  small- 
pox sti^  continued,  and  the  measles  had  got 
among  us,  and  great  numbers  were  sick  with  both 
diseases.  The  next  day,  conceiving  they  had  no 
other  alternative,  a  great  number  entered  the 
British  service ;  rather  hazarding  the  chance  of 
escape,  and  censure  of  their  country,  than  to 
trust  life  to  the  perils  of  this  prison. 

Although  I  am  a  little  before  some  part,  of  my 
story,  I  must  not  forget  to  mention,  that  about 
the  middle  of  September,  another  draft  was  taken 
from  the  Hector,  now  at  Hamoaze,  near  Ply- 
mouth ;  among  which  were  the  crew  of  the  Uni- 
ted States'  brig  Argus,  taken  by  the  Pelican. 
One  Robinson,  who  had  belonged  to  the  Argus, 
had  declared,  that  several  of  the  crew  of  that  vc??- 


51 

sel  were  British  subjects.  And  imrnediatel} 
seventeen,  whom  he  pointed  out,  were  tcd^en  and 
conveyed  on  board  the  receiving  ship,  St.  Salva- 
dor,  and  put  into  close  confinement,  there  to 
await  their  trial  and  execution,  should  they  be 
found  guilty.  The  boatswain,  and  a  number  of 
others,  wounded  in  the  action,  were  conveyed  to 
the  hospital,  in  Mill-prison  at  Plymouth. 

At  the  end  of  this  month  a  great  number  had 
died,  and  numbers  down  with  all  complaints,  prc- 
\*alent  in  crowded  camps  or  prisons.  The  weather 
much  like  the  month  before. 

By  letters,  received  the  tenth  of  October,  from 
Chatham  and  Stapleton,  we  were  infonncd,  that 
Mr.  Beaslcy  had  visited  them,  and  his  conduct  and 
language  at  those  places  were  the  same  as  at  this 
depot.  By  the  letters  from  Chatham,  we  had  an 
account  of  eighteen  making  their  escape,  by  cut- 
ting a  hole  through  the  side  of  the  Crown  Prince, 
at  that  place  ;  that  afterwards  the  guard  were  in- 
creased and  more  vigilant. 

On  the  sixteenth,  Capt.  Cotgrave  gave  orders, 
by  directions  of  the  Transport  Board,  to  have  all 
these  outcast  Frenchmen  in  No.  4  collected.  This 
took  four  hundred  and  thirty-six  from  the  prison, 
and  much  relieved  us. 

Before  I  proceed  on  with  the  remainder  of  my 
story,  I  cannot  but  here  observe,  the  strange  efiert 


4 


52 

habit  and  corruption  have  in  changing  our  common 
natuie.  They  had  been  many  oi  them  ten  years 
in  this  prison  in  a  state  of  perfect  nudity,  and  had 
been  so  for  many  years  ;  had  slept  upon  the  bare 
stone-rloor  without  covering  for  many  years  ;  till 
the  flesh  had  ac  -uired  a  son  of  hardness,  like  the 
stones  themselves. 

This  was  the  effect  of  gambling,  which  had  ac- 
quired a  greater  power  over  them  than  hunger  or 
nakedness.  Whenever  they  were  supplied  with 
clothing,  they  never  put  them  on,  but  turned  to 
gambling,  till  they  had  lost  the  whole.  They  had 
often  been  supplied  by  their  countrymen  in  the 
other  prisons,  with  hammocks,  beds,  and  clothing  : 
but  they  no  sooner  got  possession  of  them,  than 
they  went  to  the  grating  of  the  othei  prisons,  and 
sold  them,  and  gambled  the  whole  away.  It  is  diffi- 
cult for  the  mind  to  conceive,  how  human  beings 
could  be  possessed  of  fewer  virtues  or  more  vices  ; 
©r  how  they  could  any  further  change  their  common 
Hature  to  a  bestial  one  without  the  assistance  of  a 
Supreme  Being.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  these 
men  (if  they  yet  deserve  the  name)  were  more 
healthy,  though  stark  naked  wmtcr  and  summer 
for  ten  years,  than  any  prisoners  at  this  depot ; 
though  to  the  number  of  nine  thousand. 

The  French  prisoners  never  received  any  assis- 
tance from  the  French  government,  but  depended 


53 

entirely  on  the  British.  Though  I  cannot  praise 
the  general  acts  of  the  latter  government,  nor  an» 
I  disposed  to  flatter  ;  yet  they  did  a  humane  act 
which  certainly  deserves  credit.  They  took  these 
four  hundred  and  thirty-six  Frenchmen  out  of  this 
prison,  clothed  them  vv-ell,  and  put  them  on  board  a 
prison-ship  at  Plymouth,  separate  from  all  other 
men,  except  their  guards,  who  carefully  watched 
them,  and  prevented  them  from  disposing  of  their 
clothes,  and  kept  them  decent  during  the  remain* 
der  of  their  captivity. 

In  the  six  prisons,  occupied  by  the  French  priso- 
ners, is  carried  on  almost  every  branch  of  the  me- 
ehanick  arts.  They  resemble  little  towns,  being 
mostly  soldiers ;  every  man  has  his  separate  occu- 
pation ;  his  work-shop,  his  store-house,  his  coffee- 
house, his  eating-house,  &C.  &c.  •,  he  is  employed 
in  some  business  or  other. 

There  are  many  gentlemen  of  large  fortunes 
here,  who  having  broke  their  parole,  were  com- 
mitted to  close  confinement.  These  were  able  t© 
support  themselves  in  a  genteel  manner ;  though 
they  were  prisoners,  they  drew  upon  their  bankers 
in  other  parts  of  Europe. 

They  manufactured  shoes,  hats,  hair,  and  bone- 
work.  They  likewise,  at  one  time,  carried  on  a  very" 
lucrative  branch  of  manufactory.      They  forged. 


64 

notes  on  the  Bank  of  England,  to  the  amount  of 
one  hundred  and  nfty  thousand  pounds  sterling  ; 
and  made  so  perfect  an  imitation,  that  the  cashier 
could  not  discover  the  forgery  ;  and  very  much 
doubted  the  possibility  of  such  imitation. 

Tliey  also  carried  on  the  coining  of  silver,  to  a 
very  considerable  advantage  ;  they  had  men  con- 
►stantiy  employed  outside  of  the  yard,  to  collect  all 
the  Spanish  dollars  they  could,  and  bring  into  pri- 
son. Out  of  every  dollar  they  made  eight  smooth 
Ei)glish  shillings  ;  equally  as  heavy,  and  passed  as 
well  as  any  in  the  kingdom. 

Whether  they  are  constituted  by  nature  to  en- 
dure hardships,  or  so  long  confinement  has  got 
them  wonted  to  live  in  prisons,  I  will  not  venture  to 
say  ;  but  they  really  seem  easy  under  it,  live  well, 
and  make  money  to  lay  up. 

They  drink,  sing  and  dance,  talk  of  their  women 
in  the  day-time,  anti,  like  Horace,  dream  of  them  at 
night ;  but  I  have  not  heard  of  any  issue  by  this 
visionary  connexion.  But  the  Americans  have  not 
that  careless  volatihty,  like  the  cockle  in  the  fable, 
to  sing  and  dance  when  their  house  is  on  fire  over 
them. 

When  any  one  has  committed  a  crime,  or  be- 
comes a  nuisance  among  them,  he  is  condemned, 
and  sent  to  No.  4,  to  remain  during  his  captivity  ; 
so  tiie  Americans  must  dwell  among  the  damned. 


i>0 

On  the  tweniy-cighlh,  a  large  corj^s  of  French 
prisoners,  taken  at  the  battle  near  St.  Sebastian, 
in  Spain,  arrived  at  this  depot,  and  took  their 
abode  among  the  other  Frenchmen.  At  this  time, 
a  vei-y  mortal  distemper  prevailed  among  the 
French  prisoners,  that  carried  offeight  or  ten  every 
day. 

When  any  one  dies  in  the  Hospital,  his  body  is 
removed  to  the  Dead-house,  a  place  made  for 
that  purpose  ;  after  being  stripped  of  his  clothes, 
shirt  and  all,  (which  go  to  the  government,  or  the 
nurse  of  the  deceased,)  the  body  is  then  opened, 
lo  learn  the  nature  of  the  disease  :  it  is  afterwards, 
juite  naked,  put  into  a  coarse  shell,  made  of  rough 
pine  boards,  and  remains  in  the  Dead-house  for 
several  days,  till  a  number  is  collected  in  the  same 
manner  :  when  a  sufficient  number  is  heaped  to- 
gether to  call  their  attention,  a  large  hole  is  dug 
back  of  the  prison,  and  all  thrown  in  together,  with- 
out form  or  ceremony. 

The  hospital  department  consists  of  a  surgeon, 
two  assistants,  and  as  many  male  nurses  as  are 
necessary.  Every  morning,  at  nine  o'clock,  ordere 
are  given,  by  the  ringing  of  bells,  that  ever}^  priso- 
ner, wanting  reliefer  medical  aid,  must,  repair  te 
the  Hospital  to  be  examined,  and  receive  prescrip- 
tions ;  he  then  returns  to  the  prison,  where  he  re- 
mains till  carried  in  again. 


^6 

The  sickness  among  the  Americans  seme  what 
abated  the  latter  end  of  this  month.  Many  enter- 
ed the  king-s  service.  As  the  recruiting  officer^^ 
receive  a  premium  on  every  soldier  they  enlist  for 
his  majesty,  they  used  every  inducement  in  their 
power.  An  officer  belonging  to  a  Dutch  regiment., 
thought  it  a  good  opportunity  to  mock  de  gildt,  en- 
tered the  yard,  and  began  to  solicit  men  to  enlist 
into  the  regiments  to  go  against  the  United  States  -, 
but  the  Americans  took  this  the  greatest  insult,  that 
such  a  booby  should  think  of  getting  them  to  fight 
against  their  country  ;  they  soon  hustled  Mynheer 
out  of  the  yard,  and  frustrated  all  his  hopes  of 
gain. 

The  majority  of  the  prisoners  used  every 
means  in  their  power  to  prevent  our  countrymen 
from  entering  the  enemy's  service.  We  often,  on 
discovering  the  intention  of  any  one  to  enlist  into 
their  service,  fastened  him  up  to  the  grating  and 
flogged  him  severely,  and  threatened  to  despatch 
them  secretly,  if  they  did  not  desist ;  but  attempts 
■were  vain  ;  they  justified  themselves  on  the  plea 
of  self-preservation  ;  that  there  was  a  possibility 
of  escaping  and  saving  their  lives  ;  and  if  detected 
by  their  country,  their  death  was  distant,  but  here 
it  was  speedy  and  certain. 

Capt.  Cotgrave,  perceiving  the  great  exertions 
that  were  made  to  prevent  any  entering  his  ma- 


5t 

jesty's  service,  adopted  a  plan  to  encourage  it. 
When  any  one  Avas  known  to  be  disposed  that  way, 
he  would  send  him  a  Hne,  and  invite  him  to  come 
to  the  guard-house,  where  the  other  prisoners 
could  have  no  communication  with  him  :  here  h 
was  kept  till  a  number  suincient  for  a  draft  wa« 
collected,  then  sent  to  Plymouth,  and  put  on  board 
a  receiving  ship,  and  received  their  bounty.  About 
one  draft  a  month  commonly  took  place. 

November.  The  weather  is  much  similar  to  that 
of  the  state  of  New- York  at  the  same  season  ;  rain, 
snow,  and  hail,  almost  every  day ;  the  prisoners 
without  stockings,  and  many  had  been  so  un- 
thoughtful  of  the  future,  as  to  sell  their  jackets  to 
buy  food  ;  and  the  whole  dress  allowed  them  was 
no  more  than  sufficient  in  the  most  clement  sea- 
son, the  prisons  being  always  damp,  and  the 
weather  very  rainy.  We  v.  ere  allowed  no  fuel ; 
some  had  also  sold  their  hammocks,  blankets,  and 
beds,  to  the  French.  These  thoughtless  wretches 
were  now  obliged  to  sleep,  or  rather  lie  upon  the 
stones  the  whole  night,  and  when  there  happened 
a  fine  day,  which  was  seldom,  it  was  with  the  great- 
est difficulty  the  guards  could  rouse  them  from 
this  stupor,  and  get  them  into  the  yard.  We 
dreaded  the  winter.  " 

We  received  letters  from  our  fellow-prisoners  at 

other  prisons,  informing  us,  that  they  had  applied 
r 


58 

to  Mr.  Beasley,  and  advising  us  to  do  the  same, 
which  we  had  ah-eady  done  ;  they  wished  to  be 
informed  of  our  situation  ;  this  was  done  in 
poetry. 

The  time  had  now  expired  for  relieving  the 
present  guard ;  this  being  done,  its  place  was  sup- 
plied by  a  Scotch  regiment-  Sympathy  glowed 
in  the  minds  of  these  gallant  fellows  ;  no  nobler 
act  has  nature  done  than  form  the  heart  that  feels 
for  other's  woes.  They  felt  for  ours,  and  though 
enemies,  at  the  peril  of  life  relieved  them  ;  it 
was  an  act  that  superior  beings  might  behold  with 
admiration.  Touched  with  this  tie  of  nature, 
w^hen  ordered  to  bring  out  every  prisoner  into  the 
yard,  sick  or  naked,  they  often  pitied  him,  gave 
him  some  reUef,  and  left  him  behind  ;  though 
ordered  to  cut  him  down  or  run  him  through,  if 
he  offered  to  remain. 

They  supplied  us  v/ith  late  papers,  and  gave  us 
all  the  account  they  could  of  the  affairs  in  Ameri- 
ca. They  cheered  us  with  the  agreeable  account 
of  the  Essex,  and  her  success  in  the  South  Seas  :  we 
had  friends  that  pitied  us,  though  they  could  not 
greatly  relieve  us. 

About  this  time  a  few  prisoners  from  Plymouth? 
lately  captured,  and  lately  from  the  states,  arrived 
at  this  depot. 


59 

The  news  they  bring  of  the  success  of  the  Ameri- 
can arms,  animates  every  soul,  and  for  a  moment 
we  forgot  our  troubles.  By  them  the  account  of 
the  Boxer  and  Enterprise,  the  complete  victory  of 
commodore  Perry  on  Lake  Eric,  is  given  us,  but 
no  hope  of  exchange  or  prospect  of  peace.  No 
alteration  in  our  treatment  by  government ;  the 
prisoners  not  permitted  out  of  yard  No.  4.  The 
French  go  any  where  through  the  several  pri- 
sons ;  go  to  market,  but  the  Americans  net  permit- 
ted to.  The  government  grew  more  strict  in  their 
enlistn-^ents  ;  they  would  receive  none  but  regularly 
bred  sailors,  and  no  invalids. 

At  the  latter  end  of  this  month  a  great  number 
of  prisoners  taken  under  the  American  flag  claimed 
a  release  from  confinement,  and  showed  that  they 
t)wed  their  allegiance  by  birth  to  powers  in  alliance 
with  Great  Britain.'  To  Holland,  Sweden,  and 
other  places,  and  are  released  on  account  of  their 
neutrality. 

Weather  very  cold  all  the  month.  The  prison- 
ers without  shoes  or  clothes,  obliged  to  keep  their 
hammock.  Fewer  deaths  than  the  month  before. 
Yard  covered  with  snow. 

Dec.   cold   increasing.     Prisoners   in  despair. 

Capt.  Cotgrave  ordered  the  prisoners  to  turn  out 

every  morning  at  the  hour  of  nine,  and  stand  in  the 

ard  till  the  guards  counted  ^cm  ;  this  generally 


60 


took  more  than  an  hour.  Many  of  the  prisonerg 
were  without  stockings,  and  some  without  shoes, 
and  many  without  jackets.  They  cut  up  their 
blankets  to  wrap  up  their  feet  and  legs,  that  they 
might  be  able  to  endure  the  cold  and  snow  while 
they  were  going  through  this  ceremony.  We  com- 
plained to  the  captain  of  this  practice,  and  told  him 
it  was  too  severe  for  the  prisoners  to  endure  ;  he 
said  it  was  his  orders,  and  as  agent  he  must  obey 
them.  We  reminded  him  of  several  instances  that 
must  shock  the  heart  of  every  feeling  man,  that  he 
himself  was  knowing  to  the  day  before.  Several 
of  these  naked  men,  chilled,  and  benumbed  with 
cold,  and  being  half  starved,  fell  down  lifeless  in 
his  presence,  and  in  presence  of  the  guards  and 
turnkeys.  This  was  a  cruelty  which  exceeded 
murder  in  any  shape  whatever ;  to  expose  the  na- 
ked helpless  prisoner  to  perish  in  the  pitiless  blast 
of  this  bleak  mountain,  was  an  act  that  made  our 
hearts  recoil  v/ith  horror. 

We  remonstrated  with  the  infamous  author, 
but  all  our  supplications  and  remonstrances  were 
in  vain ;  the  wretch  was  inexorable  ;  his  feehngs 
had  become  callous  by  continuing  so  long  among 
the  sufferings  of  the  French  prisoners.  After 
these  men  fell  down  in  the  yard,  they  were  taken 
up  and  carried  to  the  hospital,  and  with  some  dif- 
ficulty  were  restored  to  life  again  ;  they  were  then 


61 

immediately  sent  back  to  prison,  there  to  lie  on  the 
stone  lioor  without  bed  or  covering. 

At  tiiis  treatment  I  presume  the  reader  will  not 
so  much  wonder  that  so  many  died,  as  he  will  that 
any  could  live  at  all. 

The  name  of  Isaac  Cotgrave,  agent  at  Dart- 
moor, of  cruel  memory,  will  ever  be  engraven  in 
odious  characters  on  the  mind  of  every  American, 
who  witnessed  his  unparalleled  cruelty. 

On  the  22d  of  this  month,  the  iron  sceptre  was 
wrested  from  his  hand,  and  placed  beyond  his 
reach.  A  new  agent,  Capt.  Thos.  G.  Shordand, 
at  this  time  superseded  Cotgrave.  Shoriland  was 
a  man  whose  feelings  had  not  yet  grown  callous  by 
being  familiarized  w^ith  human  misery,  and  at  his 
iir  t  arrival  he  was  shocked  at  the  scenes  of  our 
misery,  which  presented  themselves  in  every  shape 
before  him  ;  touched  with  compassion,  he  could  not 
continue  the  cruel  practice  of  counting  over  the 
prisoners  every  morning  in  the  yard.  He  coun- 
termanded the  order,  which  his  predecessor  pre- 
tended to  have  been  commanded  to  put  in  force. 
He  declared  to  us,  that  he  would  do  all  in  his  pow- 
er to  procure  us  some  relief  from  his  government ; 
tliat  he  himself  would  do  all  he  could  in  his  situa- 
tion as  agent,  to  assist  us ;  he  very  politely  and 
kiudl)  oiiere  1  tc  forward  to  Mr.  Peasley,  or  to  the 
congress  oi  the  United  States,  any  commumcaiion 
F  2 


Ii2 

or  petition  which  might  procure  us  any  relief. 
He  stated  in  feehng  terms  to  the  Board  of  Trans- 
port, the  real  condition  of  the  American  prison- 
ers. He  ordered  the  doctors'  assistants  to  visit  the 
persons  daily,  and  to  remove  to  the  hospital  all 
ui?  sick  who  had  before  been  refused  admittance. 
He  granted  permission  for  two  of  the  prisoners  to 
attend  the  market  each  day,  and  purchase  such  lit- 
tle necessary  articles  as  they  were  able,  such  as 
soap,  potatoes,  tobacco,  &;c. 

These  relaxations  in  the  morning  of  his  power 
seemed  to  promise  a  bright  day  ;  but  the  noon 
began  to  grow  a  little  obscure,  and  v/e  are  sorry  to 
say,  at  last  went  down  in  blood,  and  left  obscure 
the  bright  traits  of  the  morning. 

The  weather  was  incredibly  cold  upon  this 
mountain ;  the  moor,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  ex- 
tend, was  covered  with  frost  and  snow  ;  the  prison 
w^alls,  by  being  continually  damp,  had  become  like 
solid  ice,  and  the  prisoners  obliged  to  keep  their 
hammocks,  for  being  allov/ed  no  fire,  had  no  other 
means  to  keep  themselves  vvarm. 

The  rigour  of  treatment  seemed  somewhat  re- 
laxed ;  for  our  friendly  officers  and  Scotch  guards 
gave  us  as  much  relief  and  consolation  as  their  sta- 
tion would  permit,  and  w^e  endeavoured  to  culti- 
vate their  friendship. 


63 

According  to  Capt.  Shortland's  advice,  and  our 
own  necessities,  we  again  maJo  application  to  Mr. 
Beasiey.  In  tiiis  letter  we  informed  him  that  we 
were  fully  of  opinion  that  the  United  States  would 
sanction  any  reasonable  overtures  he  should  make 
to  prevent  her  citizens  from  starving  or  perishing 
for  want  in  a  Ibreign  prison  ;  that  his  being  agent 
for  the  United  States,  was  sufficient  power,  and  he 
had  a  right  to  pledge  the  credit  of  the  United 
States,  which  was  amply  sufficient  to  procure  any 
sum  requisite  for  our  relief.  We  farther  stated, 
in  the  most  unequivocal  terms,  that  unless  some 
relief  was  given  us  soon,  that  the  prisoners  had 
come  to  a  unanimous  and  final  determination  to 
oflbr  our  services  en  masse  to  the  British  govern- 
ment, and  at  the  same  time  transmit  to  the  Uni- 
ted States  a  copy  of  all  letters  from  us  to  him,  and 
set  forth  to  congress  all  our  reasons  for  so  doing, 
which  would  most  undoubtedly  cast  all  the  blame 
©n  him. 

This  month  ended  with  increased  cold  and  snow 
falling  daily.  The  prisoners  did  not  go  out  of  their 
hammocks,  only  at  dinner,  which  was  the  only  meal 
they  had.       » 

Jan.  1814.  The  year  commences  with  as  cold 
weather  as  we  ever  experienced  in  the  city  of 
Kew-York  ;  the  buckets  in  the  prison,  in  the  short 
space  of  four  hours,  froze  ten  or  twelve  quarts  to 
a  solid,  and  the  prisoners  must  inevitably  have  fro- 


64 

zen,  were  not  the  hammocks  placed  so  near  toge- 
ther as  to  cj.iimunicaie  the  animal  heat  from  one 
man  to  anolher. 

Txie  running  stream  that  supplied  the  prison 
froze  solid,  and  the  weather  was  allowed  to  be  col- 
der than  it  had  been  for  fifty  years  before. 

On  the  1st  the  snow  was  two  feet  on  the  level,  and 
began  to  snow  again  ;  the  cold  somewhat  abated, 
and  it  continued  snowing  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  till  the  nineteenth  ;  it  had  now  got  to  be  four 
feet  on  the  level,  a:id  the  drifts  in  the  yards  as 
high  as  the  prison  walls,  (hfteen  feet)  the  water 
all  fi'ozen,  and  the  prisoners  obliged  to  eat  snow 
for  drink.  The  guards  were  all  obliged  to  leave 
the  walls  and  retire  to  the  guard  house  ;  no  sentery 
on  duty  except  in  the  barra.cks. 

At  midnight :  this  dreary  night,  eight  prisoners 
think'ng  to  take  advantage  of  the  night,  to  make 
their  escape,  as  no  senteries  were  in  sight,  formed 
a  ladder,  and  with  it  ascended  and  descended  the 
first  wall  directly  against  the  guard  house,  and  in 
ascending  the  second,  the  saldicrs  in  the  guard 
house  discovered  them,  a  id  apprehended  seven;  the 
eighth  got  quite  over  the  wall,  and  made  his 
escape.  These  seven  were  taken  to  the  guard 
house  and  there  put  into  ihe  black  hole,  which  is 
the  })laoe  for  prisoners  diat  attempt  to  make  their 
escape:  the  weataer  extremely  cold,  was  likely  to 


05 

prove  their  last.  But  the  fifth  day  they  were  re- 
moved to  the  cachot,  and  remained  on  two-thirds 
allowance,  sleeping  on  straw  for  ten  days.  The 
prisoners,  soldiers,  and  officers,  w  ere  now  furnish- 
ed with  salt  provisions,  which  are  always  kept  at 
the  prison  against  any  emergency  of  this  kind. 
Every  man  upon  the  mountain  was  now  much 
alarmed,  as  only  ten  days  stock  of  provision  was 
in  reserve  on  the  mountain,  and  there  were  now  up- 
wards of  nine  thousand  French  and  American 
prisoners,  besides  fifteen  hundred  soldiers  and  offi- 
cers, doctors,  and  a  numerous  train  of  turnkeys. 

The  back  house  was  at  some  distance,  and  the 
snow  drifted  in,  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  deep  ;  this 
formed  an  impassible  barrier  5  but  Capt.  Short- 
land,  at  the  head  of  two  hundred  French  prisoners, 
all  the  horse  of  the  garrison  and  clerks,  turn- 
keys, (fee.  after  working  one  whole  day,  shovelled 
a  passage  sufficient  for  wagons  to  pass.  For 
should  the  weather  continue  as  cold  as  it  then  was, 
all  communication  between  that  place  and  Ply- 
mouth, whence  the  provisions  were  brought,  being 
totally  stopped  by  the  great  depth  of  snow^,  they 
were  in  great  danger  of  starving.  On  the  twenty 
fifth  the  weather  began  to  moderate  and  the  snow 
began  to  dissolve. 

The  eighth  man  who  made  his  escape  had  wan- 
dered over  the  moor,  through  the  deep  snow,  till 


66 

by  chance  he  came  to  a  single  hut  on  the  moor. 
the.peasants  suspected  him  to  be  a  prisoner,  as  no 
person  could  travel  in  such  tedious  weather,  and 
after  examininr^  him  some  time,  he  confessed  he 
had  made  his  escape  from  prison.  They  brought 
him  back,  and  he  received  the  same  sentence  as 
his  unsuccessful  companions.  During  his  absence 
all  the  oincers  and  prisoners  were  much  concern- 
ed at  the  miserable  fate  tiiey  were  confident  he  must 
have  shared,  as  it  was  impossible  for  him  long  to 
live,  for  if  he  survived  the  storm,  he  must  starve  in 
a  few  days :  but  it  seemed  he  had  reached  the  hut 
on  the  second  day,  vrithout  being  frozen  in  any  part. 
The  oiScers  and  guards  considering  his  attempt 
so  bold  and  fearless  of  death,  and  showed  such  a 
noble  longing  for  liberty,  were  really  sorry  to  see 
him  brought  back,  and  declared  that  a  man  so 
dauntless  as  to  dare  such  perils,  deserved  his  li- 
berty, and  a  reward  ;  and  had  it  been^  in  their 
power  he  v»  ould  have  been  released. 

Here  I  must  beg  leave,  though  I  fear  the  repe- 
tition of  our  distress  may  tire  the  reader,  to  ap- 
peal to  the  feeling  of  my  fellow  citizens  at 
this  time  at  ease,  beyond  the  great  Atlantic : 
what  would  you  have  done,  could  you  have  seen 
your  fellow  citizens  at  Dartmoor,  the  coldest  win- 
ter there  has  been  for  half  a  century,  without  fire, 
or  light,  during  the  night,  without  stockings,  andf. 


67 

many  without  shoes,  and  nearly  naked,  hah'  starv- 
ed, buried,  in  snow,  upon  the  top  of  an  uninhabi- 
ted and  uncultivated  mountain,  the  camp  distemper 
among  them,  and  overrun  with  verm.in;  great  num- 
bers dying,  and  death  grimly  threatening  every 
man. 

Say,  would  you  not  have  pitied  and  flew  to  their 
relief,  and  left  the  gay  circle  of  your  amusement :' 

But  few  entered  the  service  of  the  enemy  this 
month;  the  weather  being  so  very  cold,  they  dread- 
ed the  removal  to  Plymouth. 

Feb.  1814.  The  weather  was  more  moderate^ 
,aid  snow  dissolving  very  fast. 

We  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Beasley,  for  the 
first  time  since  our  confinement,  which  had  conti- 
nued  ever  since  April  1813.  This  is  the  first  scrap 
In  writing  any  prisoner  in  England  had  ever  re- 
<  eived  from  him  ;  it  read  as  follows  "  Fellow  citi- 
zens, I  am  authorized  by  the  government  of  the 
United  States  to  allow  you  one  penny  half-penny 
per  day,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  you  tobacco 
and  soap,  which  will  commence  being  paid  from 
the  first  day  of  January,  and  I  earnestly  hope  it 
will  tend  tow^ards  a  great  relief  in  your  present 
circumstances.  I  likewise  would  advise  j^ou  to 
appoint  a  committee,  by  w^hich  means  you  can  con- 
vey to  me  any  intelhgence  through  the  Board 
of  Transport."  Immediately  after  the  reception 


68 

of  this  letter,  Tve  formed  a  committee  of  six,  five 
besides  myself,  Avho  were  to  see  that  every  man 
haJ  hiS  money,  and  gave  a  receipt  to  Capt.  Short- 
land,  who  was  authorized  by  PJr.  Beasley  to  pay  it. 
In  conformity  to  these  arrangements,  we  re- 
ceived, on  the  5th  of  February,  three  halfpence 
sterling  per  day  (less  than  three  cents).  This 
money  was  to  be  paid  every  thirty-two  days  :  as 
one  month  had  passed  from  the  time  it  was  to 
commence,  we  received  the  payment  for  all  that 
time.  The  day's  allowance  of  cash  would  pur- 
chase two  pounds  of  potatoes,  or  three  chews  of 
tobacco,  which  latter  was  live  shillings  and  six 
pence  sterling  all  over  England.  We  returned  to 
Mr.  Beasley  a  letter,  acknowledging  the  receipt 
of  the  money,  and  stated  the  great  alteration  this 
little  attention  had  made  in  the  prisoners  ;  every 
man  was  animated  beyond  description  to  find  him- 
s-elf  again  acknowledged  by  the  United  States  : 
that  before  that  time  they  concluded  that  during 
the  twelve  months  they  had  been  immured  in 
prisons,  so  far  from  their  country,  that  they  were 
entirely  forgotten  by  her,  and  that  she  did  not  any 
more  remember  she  had  such  sons  as  those  at 
Dartmoor,  The  gloom  that  had  so  long  clouded 
their  countenances  now  began  a  little  to  disap- 
pear, and  the  prospect  a  little  brightened,  and  we 
had  hopes   of  life  ;   but   still  our  nakedness  was 


m 


grievous  to  bear.  In  a  letter  of  thanks  to  our 
gQvernment  through  the  medium  of  Mr.  Beasley, 
we  stated  every  particular  of  our  situation,  our 
jfiast  and  our  present  sufferings.  We  stated  to 
him,  that  it  could  not  be  possible  that  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States  had  allowed  tliat  small 
sum  for  those  {ew  articles,  and  had  not  made  any 
provision  for  clothing,  which  ouglu  to  have  occu- 
pied their  first  attention,  for  without  cloti-es  we 
did  not  need  soap.  We  must  therefore  con- 
clude this  sum  vras  allowed  by  himself  out  of  the 
United  States'  funds,  and  that  we  were  extremely 
grateful  for  it  ;  that  tlic  United  States,  Vv-ere  they 
acquainted  Avith  all  the  particulars  of  our  situa- 
tion, they  would  make  immediately  all  requisite 
arrangements  for  clothing,  which  his  honour  Mr. 
Beasley  must  be  well  sali.^ified  we  were  much  in 
need  of.  After  this  correspondence  with  Mr. 
Beasley,  we  formed  resolutions  to  expel  all  sham- 
bling, and  were  fully  confident  that  some  greater 
arrangement  v/oulJ  bo  made  for  us. 

Before  this  sime  seventy-five  had  entered  the 
British  service  out  of  nine  hundred  Americans  at 
this  depot,  but  nov/  not  a  man  mentioned  such  a 
thing  ;  he  could  not  be  persuaded  to  do  it.  Tliin 
shows  how  much  effect  so  little  attention  of  Mr. 
Beasley  had  upon  the  prisoners.  We,  on  the  22^ 
t)f  this  month,  petitioned  to  have  the  black  prison 


ers  separated  from  the  -^vhile,  for  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  prevent  these  fellows  from  stealing,  al- 
though they  were  seized  up  and  flogged  almost 
every  day.  Our  petition  was  granted^  and  we 
greatly  relieved,  and  the  blacks,  ninety  in  num- 
ber, occupied  the  upper  stories. 

The    weather   greatly    moderated,    but  vast 
quantities  of  rain  fell.      The  British    government 
made  an  order  to  release  all  prisoners    belonging 
to  the  king  of  Prussia,  taken  under  the  flag  of  the 
United  States.      A  few  days  after   they  issued  a 
general  order  that  all  prisoners  belonging  to  any 
nation  w4th    whom  she    was   in   alliance,  under 
whatever  flag  they  were  taken,  should  be  releas- 
ed.    This  order  released  many  Americans   w^ho 
were    acquainted   with   different  languages,    and 
could  make  a  plausible  story  :    the  Yankees  w^ere 
citizens  of  all  nations  whose  language  they  knew\ 
At  the  close  of  this  month  we  received  letters 
irom  our  countrymen  on  board  the   prison  ships 
at  Chatham,  and  likewise  those  at   Stapleton,  in- 
forming us  that  they  had   received  the  same    al- 
lowance of  three  halfpence  per  day  at   both  pla- 
ces, at  the  same  time  that  we  received  it.       They 
also  sent  a  copy  of  a  letter  of  Mr.  Beasley,  which 
is  the  same  as  the  one  already  mentioned.     They 
also  mentioned  that  they  had  had  a  very  severe 
winter,  but  it  w  as  not  as  severe  there  as  at  this 


71 

place.  The  prisoners  at  Chatliam,  among 
whom  were  great  numbers,  that  had  been  released 
"from  the  British  service,  during  the  winter,  had 
received,  their  wages  and  prize  money  ;  whic^ 
as  is  usual  with  a  generous  hearted  sailor,  they 
distributed  for  the  good  of  the  whole.  At  the 
depot  at  Stapleton,  the  American  prisoners  were 
distributed  among  the  French,  who  in  many  in- 
stances were  very  kind. 

On  the  last  day  of  this  month,  by  papers  con- 
veyed to  us  by  our  friendly  Scotch  guards,  we 
found  an  account  of  captain  Porter's  taking  two 
large  South  seamen,  mounting  16  guns  and  up 
wards  of  fifty  men  each.  He  says  they  surren- 
dered without  firing  a  gun  ;  that  they  were  taken 
by  the  boats  of  the  Essex,  and  speaks  rather 
slightly  of  the  courage  of  the  British  on  those  oc- 
casions. 

In  Ptiarch  the  weather  began  to  be  mild  ;  the 
snow  was  nov/  mostly  gone  ;  the  prisoners  could 
remain  in  the  yard  the  greater  })art  of  the  day, 
and  their  spirits  v/ere  much  revived  at  the  expec- 
tation of  receiving  their  penny  halfpenny  per 
day  in  a  lump  ;  but  this  was  prolonged,  and  the 
prisoners  began  to  despond,  as  they  had  received 
no  information  from  Mr.  Beasley  since  the  second 
of  last  month ;  but  on  the  fifteenth  orders  were 
issued  to  pay  it.  and  glad  enough   were  we,   for 


72 


f^evy  man  considered  this  little  payment  his  sole 
suprrort. 

Tiie  gates  were  now  left  open,  and  we  had  alt 
t^e  privileges  of  the  market  which  were  allowed 
t^ie  French ;  we  were  allowed  to  go  through  all 
the  prisons,  visit  the  French  officers,  and  gain 
all  the  information  we  could  from  London  papers, 
which  many  of  the  French  oilicers  took  daily. 
The  French  prisoners  were  much  concerned  at 
the  fate  of  their  country  when  they  learned  the 
success  of  the  allies,  as  every  prisoner  had  been 
in  the  army  or  navy  of  Bonaparte,  and  were 
much  attached  to  the  Emperor. 

Having  received  no  letters  from  Mr.  Beasley, 
we  now  gave  up  all  hope  of  exchange,  gave  our- 
selves up  to  our  condition,  and  resigned  our  des- 
tiny into  the  hands  of  Heaven  to  deal  with  us  as 
he  pleased,  during  the  long  captivity  which  we 
believed  we  had  to  endure  ;  for  seeing  the  Eng- 
lish papers  filled  with  accounts  of  the  success  of 
their  arms  in  Europe,  and  every  day  declaring 
their  full  confidence  of  a  complete  conquest  of  A- 
merica,  we  could  not  expect  peace,  though  this 
boasting  did  not  frighten  us,  for  we  knew  the 
strength  and  valour  of  the  American  people. 

On  the  18th  v/e  established  a  coffee-house  in 
our  prison,  as  the  French  had  in  theirs,  and  sold 
eofiee  at  a  penny  a  pint ;  but  you  cannot  think  ii 


73 

very  delicious  when  I  inform  you  that  it  could  not 
be  bought  under  tvro  and  three  pence  per  pound, 
and  molasses  seventy  per  hundred  weight.  At 
the  same  time  some  of  the  prisoners  received  mo- 
ney from  home,  and  all  established  themselves  in 
some  kind  of  business.  Some  established  them- 
selves as  tobacconists,  others  as  potatoe-mer- 
chants,  butter  merchants,  and  indeed  almost  all 
kinds  of  merchandise  were  carried  on  in  our  pri- 
son after  we  received  our  second  payment  :  we 
had  "  free  trade  and  sailors'  rights."  We  could 
purchase  any  article  of  provision  in  the  markets, 
coffee,  sugar,  molasses,  any  thing  the  country  af- 
forded. The  gates  being  now  opened,  we  traded 
with  the  French.  We  could  buy  potatoes  at  six 
pence  a  score,  butter  at  one  and  six  pence  per 
pound,  bread  at  three  pence  per  pound,  and  as 
for  meat,  that  was  out  of  the  question  altogether. 
Every  man  began  to  use  all  the  economy  he  could, 
which  he  perceived  the  French  did.  Some  went 
to  work  for  the  French  at  making  straw  flats,  at 
which  they  could  earn  one  penny  per  day. — 
Others  were  employed  in  making  hst  shoes,  some 
in  the  manufactory  of  hair  bracelets,  necklaces,  &lc, 
while  great  numbers  employed  themselves  in 
working  the  bones  we  got  out  of  the  beef,  in  imita- 
tion of  i'-\c  French,  who  were  very  ingenious,  and 
'would  form  the  most  admirable  and  beautiful 
G2 


74 

ships,  plank,  mast,  and  rig  them  all  of  bone.  The 
French,  for  their  amusement,  had  regular  plays  in 
a  theatrical  form,  with  very  elegant  scenery,  once 
a  month.  Hamlet's  ghost  was  an  easy  part  toact^ 
for  they  had  only  to  show  their  natural  visage,  be- 
ing mere  shadows  themselves.  They  had  excel- 
lent music,  and  appropriate  comic  and  tragic 
dresses.  They  also  had  schools  for  teaching  the 
arts  and  sciences,  dancing,  fencing  and  music,  and 
each  of  these  in  great  perfection.  As  numbers  of 
them  were  daily  reccivmg  money  from  France, 
iheir  prison  was  very  rich.  But  ISq.  4,  vrhere  the 
sons  of  liberty  had  lived  SD  long  on  the  vapour  of  a 
dungeon,  when  will  the  same  be  said  of  you  ? 
Pcrha}:«  somxC  victim  as  unhappy  as  myself,  when 
some  ten  years  have  rolled  away,  and  the  human 
mind,  compelled  by  stern  necessity  to  invent,  and 
I  myself  have  found  m.y  quietus  behind  the  prison 
walls,  may  tell  a  sorry  story  of  splendid  misery 
within  your  gloomy  gates. 

During  the  whole  month  of  March  the  weather 
ft'as  quite  mild,  ojid  the  prisoners  gained  their 
health  and  strength  greatly.  On  the  21  st  we  de- 
tected the  contractor  cheating  us  in  our  rations, 
by  giving  scant  weight*  We  immediately  inform- 
ed Capt.  Shortland  of  the  fraud,  who  examined  in- 
to the  fact  and  had  the  cheating  stopped,  but  gave 


70 


the  conduct  of  the  contractor  a   very  easy  term, 
by  saying  it  was  a  mistake. 

Towards  the  close  of  this  month  many  of  the 
Americans  had  obtained  some  remnants  of  gar- 
ments from  the  French,  and  mostly  all  the  boys 
had  got  into  the  employ  of  the  French  officers  as 
waiters.  Many  of  these  little  victims  of  war  were 
under  thirteen,  and  tliere  were  many  old  men  a- 
bove  the  age  of  sixty  imprisoned ;  both  these 
classes  it  has  been  considered  contrary  to  the  cus- 
tom of  nations  to  imprison.  What  use  could  it 
fee  to  sacrifice  the  aged  or  the  child   in  a    prison  ? 

I  had  sailed  for  many  years  in  the  employment 
©f  merchants  of  England,  and  had  ever  had  a  most 
exalted  idea  of  the  humanity  and  generosity  of 
that  nation,  but  by  woeful  experience  I  found  I 
had  been  deceived.  Many  of  my  readers  may. 
perhaps,  dispute  tiie  truth  of  what  I  have  here 
asserted,  but  I  appeal  to  thousands  of  my  coun- 
trymen, who  will  testify  the  truth  of  what  I  have 
said,  and  thousands  who  have  suffered  with  me 
will  say,that  the  pen  of  Homer  or  Milton  would 
fall  short  in  describing  the  miseries  of  Dartmoor. 

Though  the  weather  was  quite  mild  at  the  end. 
of  the  month,  yet  as  many  of  the  prisoners  were 
almost  naked,  they  suffered  greatly  for  want,  df 
more  clothing. 


76 

©n  the  last  day  of  this  month  we  received  a  let- 
ter from  Mr.  Beasley,  being  the  second  ever  re- 
ceived at  this  Depot  from  him. 

I  shall  commence  the  transactions  of  April,  bj 
giving  a  copy  of  the  letter  which  we  received  the 
day  before. 

Fellow  Citizens^ 

In  addition  to  the  allowance  of  three  half-pence 
per  day,  which  has -heretofore  been  allowed,  I 
shall  make  remittance  to  Captain  Shortland,  to 
enable  you  to  have  coffee  and  sugar  twice  a  week, 
that  is,  the  days  on  which  your  rations  consist  of 
fish  ;  my  intention  at  first,  was  to  have  the  arti- 
des  themselves  sent  to  be  distributed,  but  it  being 
suggested  to  me  by  the  committees  at  the  other 
depots  that  the  value  in  money  would  be  more 
serviceable  to  the  prisoners,  I  have  determined  to 
allow  three  pence  half-penny  per  man,  two  days 
in  the  v/eek,  being  the  value  of  those  articles,  and 
t  hope  the  committee  will  find  means  to  ensure  its 
feeing  applied  to  the  purpose  intended.  Yours  &c. 

R.  G.  BEASLEY. 

With  the  letter  was  accompanied  an  additional 
allowance,  which  augmented  the  sum  to  two  pence 
kalf  penny,  and  we  now  received  the  sum  of  six 
and  eight  pence  on  the  eighth.  This  was  to  con- 
tinue being  paid  monthly.  ^ 


/7 


As  it  is  natural  to  expect,  this  payment  produ-- 
oed  great  spirits  and  annnation  among  the  prison- 
ers, and  was  as  welcome  as  a  thousand  pounds 
Wiien  we  were  free  and  had  plenty.  With  this 
money  the  prisoners  purchased  many  little  neces- 
sary articles  of  clothing,  such  as  shirts,  shoes, 
trowsers,  &lc.  which  could  be  bought  ve/y  cheap 
•f  the  French,  who  always  kept  stores  of  second 
hand  clothing,  which  were  obtained  from  the  offi- 
cers. 

The  weather  was  fine  for  this  place,  and  the  pris- 
oners healthy,  and  having  obtanied  some  few 
clothes,  and  anticipating  the  reception  of  more,  be- 
gan to  be  quite  comfortable  in  their  situation, 
when  we  compare  it  to  the  distress  of  that  cold 
winter  they  had  just  passed  through. 

Our  little  salary  seemed  to  command  some  res- 
pect from  the  turnkeys,  soldier-officers  and  sub. 
alterns,  who  were  themselves  as  poor  and  meager 
as  Hamlet's  apothecary.  It  brought  us  many  in- 
dulgences, such  as,  full  liberty  of  the  markets, 
which  before  had  been  prohibited,  and  we  compel- 
led  to  purchase  of  the  French  at  the  gratmgs. 
This  was  a  great  benefit  to  us,  for  we  could  no\r 
trade  with  the  country  people  much  cheaper. 

To  regulate  our  rations,  wc  were  also  allowed  to 
appoint  a  committee  of  two  to  attend  at  the  store 


t9 

house  to  see  that  the  contractor  gave  us  weight  ii> 
those  articles  allowed  by  the  board. 

The  day  after  we  received  our  payment,  we  re- 
reived  London  papers  containing  an  official  ac- 
count of  the  allies  entering  Paris,  and  the  complete 
defeat  and  dovvnfall  of  Bonaparte.  This  news  was 
a  sore  affliction  to  the  French  prisoners,  who  were 
passionately  attached  to  the  Emperor,  and  not 
much  less  galling  to  the  Americans,  for  nov/  some 
boasting  pettimaitres  among  the  British  officers 
would  come  into  the  yard,  in  the  most  taunting 
vile  manner,  to  sport  with  the  feelings  of  the  pris- 
oners of  both  nations,  for,  said  they,  "  we  have  con- 
quered France,  and  have  not  the  least  doubt  but 
we  shall  shortly  completely  reduce  the  United 
States  to  colonies  of  Great  Britain,  and  yout 
haughty  president  become  a  mendicant  vaga- 
bond." This  insolence  was  too  much  for  flesh  and 
blood  to  bear.  They  declared  they  could  have 
peace  on  any  terms  they  wished,  and  although  we 
were  yet  prisoners  of  war,  they  considered  us  their 
subjects. 

Such  language  to  prisoners  who  could  not  resent 
it,  showed  that  the  authors  of  it  could  be  nothing 
better  than  the  vilest  caitiffs,  and  could  flow  from 
aothin.c:  but  the  meanest  of  envv. 

The  French  prisoners  felt  this  conduct  much 
«^orc  seyere  than  wc  :  for  the  conaucst  was  al- 


79 

t'eady  niatk',  and  they  were  obliged  to  look  to  ^ 
master  whom  they  hated,  to  one  who  was  the 
choice  of  their  enemies,  Lewis  1 8th. 

Many  gentlemen  visited  the  prison  to  congratu- 
late those  unfortunate  men,  on  their  being  restor- 
ed to  liberty,  and  thought  that  as  they  had  been 
many  of  them  confined  fi^om  five  to  eleven  years, 
they  would  rejoice  at  the  idea  of  liberty  under  any 
monarch.  They  presented  jthe  prisoners  with  tlie 
old  national  flag,  and  advised  them  to  v.car  the 
v>hite  cockade,  but  they  declared,  in  the  presence 
of  those  gentlemen,  that  they  would  prefer  staying 
in  prison  all  ihcir  life  time  than  to  serve  any  other 
master,  or  become  subject  to  any  other  king  than 
Bonaparte,  whom  they  loved.  But  the  sequel  w^ill 
^how  how  lasting  their  determinations  were,  and 
tiow  like  they  were  to  their  nation  at  large. 

At  this  time  to  express  their  regret  at  the  misfor- 
lune  of  their  beloved  emperor,  and  their  resent- 
ment to  the  proffered  flag  and  cockade  of  the  new- 
monarch,  they  came  forward  every  m.an,  wearing 
the  tri-coloured  cockade,  and  the  white  ones  on  the 
heads  of  the  dogs,  that  ran  about  the  yard.  The 
white  flag  they  destroyed  w  ith  great  eagerness,  in 
presence  of  the  visitors  and  groat  numbers  of  Bri-^ 
tish  officers  standing  on  the  wall. 

Shortly  after  this  intelligence  of  the  affairs  of 
France,  we  had  letters  from  Chatham,  v.hich  ir- 


m 

formed  us,  that  since  th^  last  from  that  place  there 
had  arrived  great  numbers  of  prisoners  there,  and 
that  many  were  almost  persuaded  in  their  own 
minds  to  enter  the  enemie's  service  ;  that  they  had 
received  the  additional  allowance  at  the  same  time 
as  ourselves.  On  the  15th  we  were  informed  that 
there  was  a  draft  ready  at  Plymouth  and  would 
shortly  be  sent  to  this  depot.  ^ 

About  this  time  a  separate  arrangement  was 
made  for  allowing  the  crew  of  the  U.  S.  brig  Argus 
half  pay,  to  be  received  monthly,  and  at  the  time 
the  first  payment  was  received,  they  received  cloth- 
ing. This  v^as  an  additional  benefit  to  our  prison, 
as  there  were  established  in  it  a  great  number  of 
»hops  for  various  branches  of  business  ;  this  mo- 
ney circulated  within  ourselves,  and  every  one  de- 
rived some  advantage. 

The  preliminaries  of  peace  being  agreed  on  at 
Paris,  the  French  prisoners,  towards  the  close  of 
the  month,  began  to  make  all  preparation  for  leav- 
ing the  prison,  and  once  more  visiting  their  native 
country.  The  idea  of  returning  to  their  native 
country,  their  homes,  and  their  wives,  was  too 
nicely  interwoven  with  the  threads  of  their  nature, 
to  be  rased  by  that  of  their  aversion  to  the  Bour- 
bons. The  change  which  was  about  to  take  place 
in  their  situation,  had  in  it  too  many  of  the  en- 
dearments of  life  to  be  sacrificed  for  the  love  of 
•Any  monarch.  The  scenes  of  their  youth,  the  pla» 


81 

ces  where  they  had  spent  so  many  careless,  plea- 
sant days,  the  embraces  of  their  friends,  all  rush- 
ed upon  their  minds  at  once,  and  they  could  not 
forbear  the  highest  transports  of  joy.  They  went 
to  leave  all  the  evils  that  men  suffer  in  this  life, 
and  to  embrace  all  the  good  and  blessings  of  it. 

We  had  now  an  opportunity  of  procuring  all  the 
tools  and  utensils  of  the  mechanical  arts  which  the 
French  carried  on.  And  during  their  long  im- 
prisonment they  had  obtained  almost  every  article 
that  could  be  named  ;  all  these  articles  we  purcha- 
sed, and  every  man  turned  all  his  ingenuity  to 
some  branch  or  other. 

The  weather  being  pleasant,  and  the  prisoners 
healthy,  they  bore  their  confinement  with  as  much 
patience  as  could  be  expected.  By  permission, 
towards  the  close  of  the  month  they  established  a 
beer-house,  where  small  beer  was  sold  for  two 
pence  half  penny  per  pot. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  month  a  school  was  es- 
tablished for  the  instruction  of  the  bovs  in  tlse  arts 
of  reading,  writing  and  common  arithmetic ;  to 
maintain  the  school,  the  rate  of  tuition  was  fixed 
at  six  pence  a  month  per  scholar,  to  be  paid  by 
them. 

May  commenced,  the  woather  was  equally  fine, 
but  some  rain.  Tn  the  bt^stle  of  the  crowd,  we  J- 
most  forgot  our  situation  ;  the  market  square  was 
H 


82 

crowded  every  day  with  people  of  every  descrip^ 
tion,  some  came  for  curiosity,  others  to  trade,  and 
among  the  latter  were  many  Jews,  who  bVought 
clothing,  and  many  other  articles,  which  might 
be  wanted  by  the  French  for  their  journey.  The 
Frencn  prisoners  were  all  in  confusion  making  rea- 
dy for  their  departure.  The  proposal  was  again 
made  to  the  French  prisoners  to  hoist  the  white 
flag,  and  wear  the  ensignia  of  Louis  18th;  but 
they  rejected  it,  and  would  not  listen  to  any  argu- 
ment. Now  was  the  time  to  try  the  strength  of 
their  attachment  to  the  emperor,  whom  only  they 
had  sworn  to  sei-ve,  or  die  in  prison.  When  the 
proposition  was  made  to  them  either  to  hoist  the 
flag  and  wear  the  ensignia,  or  remain  in  prison  till 
the  last  draft  of  prisoners  in  England,  they  then 
immediately,  but  rather  reluctantly,  hoisted  the 
white  flag  and  put  on  the  cockade.  But  it  was  a 
grievous  sight  to  them,  and  they  could  not  look  at 
it  but  with  the  bitterest  reflection,  and  the  most 
poignant  regret,  for  they  had  for  years  endured 
all  the  calamities  and  hardships  of  danger  and 
war,  for  the  support  of  their  beloved  emperor,  who 
ROW  must  give  place   to   those  they   hated. 

On  the  1 0th  a  draft  of  Americans  from  Plymouth, 
about  170,  in  great  distress,  arrived  at  thisdei  ot; 
among  whom  were  the  seventeen  that  were  taken 
and  put  into  close  confinement  by  the  information 


83 

of  Robertson.  They  had  been  tried  for  high  treason 
by  a  court  of  judicature  ;  but  there  not  being  suf- 
ficient evidence  on  the  part  of  the  crown  to  sup- 
port the  charge,  they  were  acquitted,  and  sent  t© 
this  prison,  to  be  dealt  by  as  prisoners  of  war  on- 
ly. In  the  same  draft  were  a  number  of  prison- 
ers who  had  been  released  from  British  ships  of 
war. 

On  the  loth,  we  received  our  monthly  pay  ;  this 
came  very  appropos,  to  enable  us  to  buy  all  the 
furniture  used  by  the  French  at  a  very  low  price. 
On  the  same  day  Mr.  Williams,  clerk  to  Mr.  Beas- 
ley,  and  a  Jew  merchant  of  London,  Mr.  Jacobs, 
brought  and  delivered  to  each  prisoner  a  jacket, 
pair  of  trowsers,  a  pair  of  shoes,  and  a  shirt.  The 
jacket  and  trowsers  were  of  very  coarse  blue 
cloth,  much  coarser  than  that  of  the  English ;  but 
it  was  such  a  dress  as  we  had  been  used  to  wear- 
ins^.  Mr.  WiUiams  then  told  us  that  we  were  to 
be  clothed  altogether  by  the  U.  States,  and  these 
we  had  now  received  were  to  last  us  eighteen 
months.  These  were  the  first  we  had  ever  receiv- 
ed from  the  agent,  and  it  is  impossible  to  describe 
the  great  change  and  life  it  gave  the  prisoners  : 
they  all  cleaned  themselves,  and  every  thing  about 
them,  and  laid  by  their  yellow  rags. 

They  began  to  attract  the  attention  of  all  about 
them  ;  the  British  officers  would  now  visit  tliem; 


84 

and  were  not  afraid  of  being  covered  with  ver- 
min as  before  ;  our  appearance  was  not  loathsome 
to  one  another ;  we  were  in  great  spirits  now,  and 
to  prevent  some  thoughtless  men  from  selHng  their 
clothing  to  the  French  to  wear  home,  we  passed 
an  act,  that  every  man  should  appear  in  his  dress 
which  he  had  received  from  the  Ignited  States,  to 
receive  his  monthly  payment,  or  not  receive  it  at 
all. 

We  now  felt  a  spirit  of  independence,  which  had 
before  been  smothered  in  the  wretchedness  of  ouf 
situation  ;  we  could  now  converse  with  ease,  and 
without  that  restraint,  which  a  mean  and  dirty 
habit  will  ever  give  a  man  in  presence  of  those  in 
a  clean  and  genteel  one  ;  that  old,  dirty,  tawny 
dress  depressed  us  with  a  sense  of  inferiority  5 
but  now  we  could  vindicate  our  country's  rights, 
in  argument  with  any  visitor  ;  we  came  out  boldly, 
and  demanded  restitution  for  any  injury  or  fraud 
that  heretofore  had  been  practised-upon  us  ;  every 
man  began  to  see  to  it,  how  he  should  gain  some- 
thing more,  now  he  was  furnished  with  utensils, 
and  set  himself  about  something. 

On  the  twentieth,  orders  arrived  for  the  first 
draft  of  French,  and  the  day  after,  five  hundred 
were  takon  out  a«id  marched  to  Plymouth,  where 
they  took  shipping  and  went  to  France. 

A  very  singular  kind  of  conduct  now  showed  it- 


85 

self  ill  the  British  government.  Twenty-four 
Americans,  citizens  of  the  United  States,  who  had 
been  taken  under  the  flag  of  France,  about  two 
years  before  the  war  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain,  were  now  among  the  French 
prisoners  at  this  place.  They  had  often  applied 
to  the  government  to  be  released,  as  citizens  of 
the  United  States  before  the  war.  They  also,  as- 
serting their  citizenship,  had  applied  after  the  war, 
to  be  enrolled  on  the  list  of  United  States  priso- 
ners, but  had  been  refused  both  their  applications. 
They  now  expected  to  be  released  with  the  French 
prisoners,  on  account  of  their  always  being  con- 
sidered by  government  as  French  prisoners  ;  but 
the  government  would  not  release  them  as  such,  but 
detained  them  in  prison.  They  now,  seeing  they 
could  not  have  the  privilege  of  French  prisoners, 
applied  to  Mr.  Beaslcy,  and  claimed  their  citizen- 
ship in  the  United  btates  :  but  received  for  answer 
from  him,  "  that  he  could  not  receive  them  as 
such  I" 

These  men  were  citizens  of  the  world  sure 
enough,  for  they  belonged  to  no  nation  in  it  ;  they 
therefore  remained  unprovided  for  hy  either  gov- 
eriiment.  But  we  could  not  see  them  perish,  as 
lo  ig  as  we  had  any  ihjng  which  could  be  divided  ; 
they  therefore  lived  upoo  our  charity  the  whole 
time. 


On  the  twenty-fifth,  another  draft  took  place  as 
before,  and  released  one  thousand.  At  this  time, 
all  the  Swedish  subjects,  taken  under  the  flag  of 
the  United  States,  were  released  and  permitted  to 
go  home. 

The  French,  who  had  been  employed  in  diffe- 
rent occupations,  being  now  released,  we  applied 
to  government  to  be  allowed  that  privilege,  each 
man  employed  at  these  different  occupations,  such 
as  carpenters,  blacksmiths,  masons,  nurses  in  the 
hospital.  &LC,  ;  and  two  hundred  labourers  were 
paid  six  pence  a  day.  In  answer  to  this  applica- 
tion, we  were  told,  that  after  the  discharge  of  all 
the  French  prisoners  we  should  have  them  allowed 
us. 

When  the  French  prisoners  passed  out,  they 
were  all  called  over  by  name,  and  great  numbers 
being  dead,  w^hich  was  not  known  to  the  keepers, 
afforded  a  fine  opportunity  for  the  Americans  to 
answer,  and  pass  out  in  the  name  of  the  deceased. 
Great  numbers,  who  could  speak  French,  obtained 
their  release  in  this  manner. 

At  the  end  of  the  month,  another  draft  of  one 
thousand  took  place,  among  whom,  twenty  Ameri- 
cans passed  out  in  the  same  manner  as  before,  the 
deception  not  being  as  yet  discovered. 

At  the  same  time,  we  received  information  by 
letter^  from  Chathg^m  and  Stapleton,  that  Mr.  Wil- 


87 

liams,  and  the  Jew  merchant  had  visited  them,  and 
siippHed  them  in  the  manner  as  ourselves,  and 
also,  that  the  French  prisoners  at  those  places 
were  released  daily.  Few  died  this  month,  the 
weather  generally  pleasant,  but  much  rain. 

Before  I  leave  the  events  of  this  month,  T  can- 
not forbear  mentioning  one  very  melancholy  and 
striking  instance  of  the  force  of  disappointment 
and  despair  ;  where  hope  has  painted  glowing 
scenes  of  pleasure  ;  the  heart  sickens  and  the 
mind  grows  frantick. 

On  the  discharge  of  the  prisoners,  every  man 
before  he  can  be  discharged,  must  return  the  same 
complement  of  bedding  which  he  had  received  two 
years  before  ;  he  must  have  the  same  number  of 
articles,  let  them  be  in  ever  so  worn-out  state  ;  if 
he  do  this  he  can  then  pass,  if  not,  he  cannot  pass. 

It  happened,  that  one  unfortunate  man,  called 
for  in  the  last  draft,  did  not  bring  forward  the  ar- 
ticles of  bedding  :  he  was  refused  a  pass,  and  or- 
dered back  to  produce  them  ;  he  ran  about  in  great 
confusion  and  the  most  terrible  anxiety  to  procure 
them,  but  could  not  find  them  ;  he  returned  again 
to  pass  out,  but  was  refused  ;  he  had  been  imiiiur- 
ed  and  buried  within  the  cold,  gloomy  walls  of  this 
prison,  eleven  tedious  and  painful  years,  he  said  : 
he  ran  and  looked,  and  looked  again — he  could  not 
procure  them,  and  he  was  refused  to  pass  j — then^ 


83 


in  the  agonies  of  despair,  he  seized  a  knife  and 
put  an  end  to  his  sufferings,  by  cutting  his  own 
throat,  in  pre&ence  of  his  countrymen  and  the 
keepers  I 

The  spectacle  was  too  horrible  to  behold  with- 
out the  deepest  regret  and  sorrow  ;  it  was  a  sight, 
that  all-powerful  Juno  might  have  sent  down  Iris 
from  heaven,  to  relieve  his  struggling  soul  from  her 
united  limbs.  Many,  through  despair,  had  com- 
mitted suicide  before  in  the  French  prisons. 

June.  The  weather  continued  much  the  same. 
On  the  fifth,  another  draft  of  French  prisoners 
was  made.  At  this  time,  an  order  was  issued,  to 
discharge  from  confinement  all  French  prisoners 
who  had  been  taken  under  the  flag  of  the  United 
States.  The  Americans,  w^io  were  ever  watchful 
for  an  opportunity  to  make  their  escape,  took  ad- 
vantage of  this  order  to  obtain  their  hberty;  many 
came  forward  and  claimed  their  birthright  in 
France  and  its  dependencies  ;  being  well  versed 
in  the  French  language,  they  bore  a  good  exami- 
nation, and  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  were  re- 
leased in  the  last  draft  of  French  subjects. 

By  this  time  all  the  French  from  No.  4  were 
released,  and  we  had  the  whole  prison  to  ourselves ; 
but  the  blacks  being  mixed  with  us  were  very 
troublesome. 


89 

We  having  purchased  from  the  French  all  they 
had,  were  now  well  furnished  with  household  fur- 
niture, such  as  tables,  dishes,  seats,  and  things  to 
cook  in.  We  now  carried  on  the  business  of  ma- 
'king  straw  flats  for  hats  and  bonnets,  although  not 
allowed  by  government ;  by  strict  attention,  we 
could  make  at  this  business  three  pence  a  day. 

On  the  fifteenth,  we  received  our  monthly  pay, 
which  never  failed  to  come  about  that  time. 

On  the  twentieth,  the  whole  of  the  French  priso- 
ners were  discharged  except  a  few  sick  in  the 
Hospital. 

On  the  22d,  Capt.  Shortland  gave  us  informa- 
tion that  all  the  prisoners  in  England  were  to  be 
collected  at  Stapleton,  as  the  Transport  Board 
determined  on  that  place  for  a  general  depot  for 
all  American  prisoners.  There  were  now  in  Eng- 
land, three  thousand  five  hundred  unparoled  priso- 
ners. The  same  information  was  given  at  Chat- 
ham and  Plymouth. 

We  anticipated  much  advantage  in  the  change 
of  situation,  and  began  to  prepare  for  the  removal, 
and  from  the  authentick  account  we  had  received 
from  that  place,  there  had  not  died  but  one-fiftieth 
as  many  in  proportion  to  their  number,  as  had 
died  at  this  depot;  the  change  was  therefore 
much  to  be  desired  ;  the  cHmate  was  much  more 
pleasant  and  healthy,  and  the  contiguity  to  the 


90 

city  of  Brrsfel,  where  every  article  manufactured 
by  the  pl'isoriers,  would  find  a  ready  market  at  a 
much  higher  price  than  at  this  place  ;  all  articles 
of  provision  much  cheaper.  But  much  to  our  dis- 
appointment, on  the  twenty-fourth,  the  late  order 
was  countermanded,  and  Capt.  Shortland  ordered 
to  make  all  things  ready  for  the  reception  of  all 
the  prisoners  in  England,  as  the  board" had  deter- 
mined on  making  this  depot  the  general  recepta- 
cle for  all  prisoners  in  England,  as  they  consider- 
ed it  the  safest  of  any  in  the  kingdom,  and  they 
might  have  added,  far  more  infernal  than  the  bas- 
tile.  He  also  told  the  prisoners  that  he  had  or- 
ders to  employ  any  number  of  the  prisoners  he 
should  think  necessary ;  such  as  carpenters  and 
masons  to  build  a  church  near  the  prison,  and  a 
number  of  labourers  to  repair  the  roads ;  also 
blacksmiths,  coopers,  painters,  lamp-lighters,  and 
nurses  in  the  hospital,  &c.  The  number  he  said 
would  amount  to  upwards  of  one  hundred.  He 
then  told  us  under  what  restrictions  we  were  to 
work ;  we  were  to  be  under  the  eye  of  a  guard 
all  the  time,  and  if  any  prisoner  attempted  to 
make  his  escape,  that  no  more  Americans  would 
fee  employed,  and  to  prevent  this,  the  following 
rule  was  adopted  ;  they  were  to  receive  their 
pay,  at  the  rate  of  six-pence  per  day,  every  three 
months,  and  if  any  prisoner   escaped,  the  whole 


91 

pay  was  forfeited  ;  this  kept  every  prisoner  watcli- 
ful  over  each  other,  for  when  one  ran  away,  all 
the  others  lost  their  whole  pay  and  emplo\  ment, 
besides,  this  was  the  method  they  had  used  with 
the  French. 

We  found  this  to  be  a  great  benefit  to  us,  for 
those  workmen  who  went  out  of  the  prison  yards^, 
smuggled  in  all  kinds  of  prohibited  articles,  such 
as  rum.  candles,  oil,  and  news-papers  ;  and  smug- 
gled out  all  the  prohibited  articles,  manufactured 
in  the  prison.  At  this  trade,  each  man  could 
make  four  or  five  shillings  a  day. 

There  were  now  eleven  hundred  prisoners,  and 
manufactures  having  got  to  considerable  perfec- 
tion, the  receijits  of  money  brought  into  the  prison 
each  week  besides  the  allowances,  were  fifty 
pounds  sterling.  Besides  this  sum  of  money,  many 
prisoners  had  friends  in  England,  and  received 
from  them  considerable  sums.  3^^ 

The  prisoners  now  began  to  live,  and  got  inte 
2;ood  spirits.  The  latter  pari  of  this  month  150 
workmen  were  employed  at  different  branches  of 
mechanical  business.  At  this  time  prisoners  from 
Stapleton  arrived  at  this  depot ;  their  number  at. 
first  was  400,  but  was  now  reduced  to  350.  Sev- 
enteen had  enlisted  into  the  British  service,  eight 
died.and  the  remainder  made  their  escape.  On  their 
arrival  here,  they  were  committed  to  No.  4,  which 


92 

contained  upwards  of  1 400,  and  was  much  crowd- 
ed. These  350  were  in  a  very  bad  condition, 
many  were  w^ithout  shoes,  and  had  travelled  most 
of  the  distance  in  the  same  condition,  for  the  shoes 
they  had  received  from  the  agent  did  not  last 
more  than  three  or  four  weeks.  This  was  an  im- 
position of  the  contractor,  as  the  agent  afterwards 
said  he  had  learned. 

On  the  twentieth  of  June  we  were  informed  by 
Capt.  Shortland,  that  when  the  other  prisoners  ar- 
rived from  Chatham,  he  would  open  the  yards  on 
the  south  side  of  the  enclosure,  and  give  us  all 
the  privileges  of  the  other  prisons.  These  yards  be- 
ing large,  would  admit  of  many  amusements  which 
that  of  No.  4  would  not,  such  as  playing  ball,  &c. 

At  this  time,  viewing  our  circumstances  on  all 
sides,  and  seeing  no  hope  of  exchange  or  peace, 
we  formed  a  design  to  make  our  escape  ;  our  plan 
was,  that  immediately  after  our  removal  to  the 
other  prisons,  to  dig  a  hole  two  hundred  and  eighty 
feet  long,  all  the  way  under  gi'ound ;  this  would 
reach  from  the  prison  beyond  the  outer  wall.  The 
success  of  this  design  will  be  mentioned  hereafter. 
On  the  same  day  we  received  London  papers,  con- 
taining an  account  of  the  capture  of  the  United 
States  frigate  Essex,  by  the  frigate  Phebe.  and 
sloop  of  war  Cherub.  The  London  editor  said 
that  the  Essex  was  equal  in  size  to  a  seventy-foui\ 


93 

Had  he  said  her  defence  was  equal  to  a  seventy- 
four,  Capt.  Hilliar  would  have  agreed  with  him. 
The  garrison  was  agam  renewed  with  a  new  regi- 
ment, and  the  old  one  removed.  This  regiment 
was  very  much  embittered  against  the  govern- 
ment ;  their  term  of  five  years,  for  which  they  had 
enlisted,  having  expired,  the  government  refused 
to  discharge  them. 

At  this  time  the  government  was  giving  great 
encouragement  to  soldiers  to  enlist  to  fight  against 
the  United  States  ;  this  regiment  was  ofiered  every 
inducement  to  join  ;  they  therefore  made  ittheirbu- 
siness  to  make  particular  inquiry  of  the  prisoners, 
what  was  the  manner  of  our  warfare,  and  the  dis- 
positions of  the  American  soldiers.  I  found  they 
wcrc  very  ignorant  in  these  things,  and  easily  de- 
terred from  their  enlisting.  I  composed  a  song 
and  distributed  it  among  them,  after  which  not  a 
man  ever  enlisted,  or  ofiered  to.  This  very  much 
enraged  the  soldier-officers  of  the  garrison,  who 
issued  orders,  that  if  any  sentery  was  found  con- 
versing with  a  prisoner,  he  should  be  punished  ; 
but  it  was  impossible  to  stop  it,  the  soldiers  were 
equally  desirous  as  the  prisoners  to  converse. 

The  fourth  of  July  was  not  far  diistant,  and  we 
began  to  make  preparations  to  celebrate  the  day 
a  second  time  since  our  confinement.  We  obtain- 
ed permission  from  the  keeper,  to  purchase  tw^ 
I 


94 

hogsheads  of  porter ;  we  likewise  had  got  a  num- 
ber of  gallons  of  rum,  unbeknown  to  the  keeper. 

We  also  provided  ourselves  with  American  co- 
lours, and  invited  all  the  soldier-officers,  clerks  of 
the  prison,  and  soldiers,  to  attend  and  hear  an  ora- 
tion that  would  be  delivered  on  the  fourth,  which 
was  the  anniversary  of  American  independence. 
The  prisoners  were  in  high  spirits,  expecting  to 
enjoy  themselves  much  better  than  they  had  done 
on  the  preceding  one,  when  they  were  half  naked. 
In  the  month  of  June  we  had  but  few  deaths, 
and  the  prisoners  generally  healthy  ;  we  had  rain, 
and  many  showers. 

On  the  first  of  July,  we  received  letters  from 
Chatham,  informing  us,  that  they  were  much  con- 
cerned at  a  late  order,  which  was  shortly  to  re- 
move them  to  this  depot ;  the  same  letter  informed 
us  that  the  prisoners  on  board  the  Crowned  Prince 
had  been  confined  three  days  without  victuals  or 
drink  ;  the  reason  why  is  yet  untold. 

On  the  second  of  the  month  the  crew  of  the  Ar- 
gus received  another  payment  of  several  pounds 
each  man,  through  the  hands  of  the  late  purser  to 
that  vessel ;  this  came  very  timely  to  us,  in  the  ce- 
lebration of  the  American  independence. 

By  letters  from  Plymouth  this  day,  we  were  in- 
formed the  reason  of  the  prisoners  being  confined 
below  deck,  on   board  the  Crowned  Prince. 


95 

It  happened  that  the  boats'  crew  of  that  ship  had 
been  on  shore  and  stole  a  sheep  from  a  farmer, 
and  the  commander  had  had  his  table  served  with 
the  best  pieces  ;  the  farmer  getting  information 
where  the  sheep  had  gone,  came  and  demanded 
reparation  for  his  sheep;  the  commander,  to  screen 
the  boats'  crew,  paid  the  farmer  the  price  of  the 
sheep. 

The  story  of  the  sheep  was  soon  known  to  the 
prisoners,  who  having  a  dislike  to  the  commander, 
one  morning,  as  he  was  going  on  shore  with  his 
wife,  and  at  the  moment  he  was  entering  the  boat, 
they  all  as  one  agreed  to  cry  blar  ;  he  understood 
the  meaning  the  very  instant  the  sound  struck  his 
oar,  and  turning  back,  he  ordered  the  prisoners  all 
below,  and  to  be  kept  there  three  days  without 
victuals  or  drink. 

On  the  evening  of  the  third,  an  event  happened 
at  Dartmooi,  which  ended  in  a  very  serious  man- 
ner. A  dispute  arose  between  towo  of  the  prison- 
ers late  belonging  to  the  United  States'  brig  Ar- 
o-us,  bv  the  names  of  Thomas  Hill  and  James 
Henry ;  the  quarrel  growing  quite  warm,  and  not 
being  ended  that  night,  they  agreed  to  fight  next 
morning ;  accordingly,  next  morning,  about  nine 
o'clock,  they  commenced  the  battle  in  prison  No.  4, 
and  by  an  unfortunate  blow  from  Hill,  Henry  was 
killed  on  the  spot ;  a  jury  of  inquest  was  called 


96 

next  morning  and  held  over  the  body  of  the  dcr 
ceased,  and  after  hearing  the  evidence,  the  jury 
brought  in  a  verdict  of  manslaughter,  or  (a  killing 
not  wholly  without  fault,  but  without  malice.) 
Thomas  Hill  was  removed  and  confined  in  the 
county  prison  at  Exeter,  there  to  await  his  trial  at 
the  August  assizes  then  next  ensuing. 

The  fourth  of  July  now  having  arrived,  and  all 
things  in  great  preparation,  we  displayed  our  flag 
in  the  yard,  with  tjie  following  inscription  upon  it 
in  large  capitals,  "  All  Canada  or  Dartmoor  prison 
for  life,''''  This  pleased  the  soldiers,  but  irritated 
the  officers,  who  discovering  our  firm  resolution  to 
defend  the  flag,  and  not  having  but  part  of  a  regi- 
ment in  the  garrison,  and  they  friendly  toward 
us,  thought  best  to  be  quite  silent  and  let  us  pro- 
ceed our  own  way  ;  for  if  they  attempted  to  de- 
prive us  of  the  flag,  we  might  rush  on  the  guards 
who  would  make  but  a  faint  resistance,  or  join  us, 
and  all  the  prisoners  might  make  an  easy  escape. 
But  the  prisoners  did  not  wish  to  make  the  at- 
tempt, for  they  knew  a  reinforcement  could  easily 
be  raised,  and  make  a  vigorous  pursuit,  and  were 
therefore  willing  to  wait  sornc  more  favourable 
opportunity.  At  eleven  o'clock  all  the  prisoners 
assembled  in  the  yard.  The  British  oflicers  be- 
longing to  the  garrison,  colonels,  majors,  captains, 
clerks,  turnkeys,  and  a  great  number  of  soldiers, 


97 

assembled  on  the  walls  to  hear  an  oration  cona- 
posed  by  a  Yankee  sailor,  upon  the  circumstances 
of  the  present  times.  An  empty  cask  was  placed 
in  such  a  situation,  as  all  the  strangers  on  the 
walls  could  hear  distinctly. 

The  orator  of  the   day  then  mounted  the  cask, 
and  all  the  spectators  keeping  a  profound  silence, 
began  his  oration,  which  we  shall  give  our  readers 
verbatim,  as  it  was  delivered  by  the  sailor. 
Countrymen  and  Fellow  Citizens^ 

This  day  we  dedicate  as  the  birth  day  of  free- 
dom, it  being  the  fourth  of  July,  the  day  that  our 
fathers  declared  themselves  free  and  independent 
from  the  tyrannical  laws  of  this  country.  After 
many  years  hard  struggle,  and  the  loss  of  many  of 
our  fathers  and  friends,  America  was  acknowledg- 
ed by  all  civilized  nations,  a  free  and  independent 
government. 

For  many  years  our  fathers,  and  we  their  off- 
spring, remained  in  the  most  perfect  state  of 
peace  and  trariquillity,  and  reaped  every  blessing 
that  grows  on  the  soil  of  liberty  ;  England,  ever 
envying  us  the  honour  our  fathers  acquired  by  their 
valour  in  arms,  when  they  declared  that  them- 
selves and  their  sons  should  no  longer  wear  the 
yoke  of  tyrvinny.  Since  tliat  time,  England  has 
used  every  intrigue  to  deprive  us  of  the  greatest 
of  blessings.  First,  coiitrary  to  the  laws  of  ci- 
12 


98 

vilized  nations,  she  has  dragged   you  from  your 
homes,  from  your  wives,  your  families  and  friends, 
into  her   infernal  bulwarks,  her   ships    of  war  ; 
there,  after  suffering  every  degradation,  from  the 
terror  of  the  lash,   she  has   sent  you  to  the   most 
horrid    prison,    in   compensation    for    your   long 
and  faithful  services.     England,  envying  the  hap- 
piness  our  countrymen  enjoyed  under  so  mild  a 
government,   the    reverse  of  her  own   tyrannical 
laws,  exerted  every  art  to  destroy  their  tranquilli- 
ty, by  offering  insults  to  the  U.  States  ships  at  va- 
rious times,  impressing  and  murdering  our   bro- 
ther seamen,  v/ithin  the  jurisdicticn  of  our  own  wa- 
ters and  within  sight  of  our  capital.     Our  country 
was  passive,  and  wishing  to  remain  at  peace  with 
all  nations,   bore  these  insults   with   a   fortitude 
becoming  a  great   and  wise  people,  and  v/as  in 
hope  that  at  some  future  day,  England  would  re- 
dress those  injuries  in  a  fair  and  honourable  way. 
But  contrary  to  every  expectation,   for  years  be- 
fore the  war,  she  grew  more  bold,  and  showed  a 
disposition  to  add  injury  to  insult,  by  issuing  or- 
ders to  make  prizes  of  all  American  vessels  not 
bound  to  her  own  ports,  or  those  of  her  allies. 

All  nations  stood  amazed  to  see  our  country  in- 
sulted, our  seamen  impressed  and  murdered  with- 
in our  own  waters  :  our  commerce  confined  and 
completely  destroyed,  contrary  to  the  laws  of  neu» 


99 


traiity.  All  this  was  done  by  England,  and  she 
unprovoked.  Then,  fellow  citizens,  the  result  of 
all  the?e  depredations,  must  be  a  formal  declara- 
tion of  war,  which  could  no  longer  be  delayed. — 
Our  country  then,  prudently  and  wisely,  mastered 
all  their  forces  both  by  sea  and  land  ;  England 
stood  ready  for  combat  fully  prepared,  and  with 
the  fullest  assurance  of  a  speedy  victory  ;  but  a- 
las !  for  England  ;  within  a  few  weeks  after  the  de- 
claration of  war.  the  United  States  frigate  Consti- 
tution, commanded  by  Captain  Isaac  Hull,  fell  in 
with  His  Majesty's  ship  Guerriere,  and  then  retali- 
ated for  one  insult,  by  sending  her  to  the  bottom. 
Great  was  the  astonishment  of  England. 

Shortly  after,  the  U.  S.  ship  Wasp,  fell  in  with 
His  Majesty's  ship  Frolic,  of  far  superior  force, 
and  after  a  second  retaliation,  she  acknowledged 
her  country's  wrongs,  by  striking  her  colours  to 
the  gallant  Jones. 

The  officers  and  seamen  of  our  infant  navy, 
710W  felt  the  ardour  of  our  forefathers. 

Decatur,  in  the  frigate  United  States,  fell  in 
with  a  vessel  of  equal  force,  the  Macedonian,  the 
pride  of  the  British  navy ;  and  after  displaying 
the  courage  of  injured  Americans,  he  took  and 
brought  her  into  port. 

The  Constitution  shortly  after  took  her  station 
along-side  of  the  Java,  a  frigate  completely  fitted 


100 


and  manned  with  a  superior  number  of  seamen ; 
and  again  did  the  God  of  battle  decide  in  favour 
of  the  injured  Americans,  and  sent  the  Java  to 
the  bottom.  The  tidings  had  scarcely  reached 
the  American  shore,  when  another  laurel  was  ad- 
ded to  our  infant  navy;  the  United  States  ship  Hor- 
net engaged  His  Majesty's  ship  Peacock,  of  equal 
force  ;  and  Capt.  Lawrence,  unwilling  to  make 
any  distinction  between  her  and  the  Java,  sent 
her  to  the  bottom  too. 


This    intelligence   had   scarcely    reached   the  j, 

shores  of  libd|^\  when  victories  were  proclaimed         i 

1 


from  all  directions. 

The  British,  feeling  their  pride  wounded  by  the 
great  exploits  of  our  undaunted  seamen,  fitted  out 
the  Boxer,  with  the  fullest  assurance  of  recover- 
ing her  lost  honeur,  and  were  confident  of  taking 
our  brig  Enterprise,of  much  inferior  force.  But  Di- 
vine Providence,  ever  extending  the  hand  of  assist- 
ance to  the  injured,  decided  the  contest  in  favour 
of  our  insulted  country  ;  and  the  Boxer  was  cap- 
tured and  brought  safe  into  port,  in  the  United 
States. 

Our  next  laurel  was  reaped  on  Lake  Erie,  by 
Commodore  Perry.  He  bravely  captured  all  the 
ntval  force  on  that  lake,  to  the  amazement  of  all 
surrounding  nations,  and  the  disgrace  of  the 
British  flag. 


JOl 

Commodore  Chauncey,  at  the  same  time;  had  a 
complete  ascendency  over  the  whole  British  force 
on  Lake  Ontario  ;  while  Commodore  Rodgers  is 
traversing  the  ocean  in  every  direction,  and  des- 
troying British  property  to  an  immense  value. — 
The  United  States  ship  Essex  is  complete  master 
of  all  the  South  Seas,  in  defiance  of  all  the  boast- 
ed superiority  of  the  British.  The  United  Sates 
ship  Congress  is  cruising  on  the  coast  of  Brazil, 
and  completely  intercepting  the  trade  of  Great 
Britain  to  all  Spanish  South  America,  and  defy- 
ing any  thing  af  equal  size. 

And  now,  fellow  citizens,  this  country,  Vvhat  has 
she  done  ?  She  has  long  boasted  of  her  honour 
and  her  bravery  ;  and  she  has  issued  orders  to 
her  frigates,  never  to  engage  an  American  frigate, 
unless  under  cover  of  a  ship  of  the  line.  She  has 
likewise  endeavoured  to  rouse  the  anger  of  the 
savage  tribes  in  the  wilderness  of  Canada,  to  mur- 
der and  scalp  your  brethren  in  arms,  in  that  coun- 
try. But  divine  Providence,  still  assisting  your 
ifijured  country,  turned  the  ferocity  of  the  sava- 
ges against  those  who  moved  them  to  anger,  and 
their  vengeance  recoiled  on  the  hand  that  attempt- 
ed to  use  it.  And  you,  fellow  citizens,  although 
prisoners  of  war,  feel  the  benefit  of  belonging  to 
so  great  and  wise  a  nation.  Have  the  United 
States  not  assisted  us  in  our  unhappy  situation, 


102 

and  much  meliorated  our  sufferings,   though  illy 
able,  while  carrying  on  so  expensive  a  war  ? 

And  now,  fellow  citizens,  I  conjure  you  to  be'pa- 
tient,  and  consider  your  country  to  be  using  her 
utmost  endeavour  to  bring  about  an  honourable 
and  speedy  peace.  In  a  state  of  war,  many  sto- 
ries are  circulated  in  this  country,  favourable  to 
her  success  in  arms,  which  have  no  foundation : 
and  this  is  done  to  encourage  and  inspire  the  sol- 
diery to  enlist  in  her  wars ;  and  perhaps,  fellow 
citizens,  many  of  you  may  honestly  believe  the  re- 
ports, but  let  ihem  not  malre  you  despair  o£  juur 
country.  No,  depend  upon  it,  she  cannot  be  con- 
quered. England  may  get  momentary  possession 
of  one  small  city,  or  perhaps  ten,  but  America  is 
not  conquered  till  every  man  is  either  taken  pri- 
soner or  killed. 

The  success  of  our  naval  arms  is  a  sufficient 
proof,  and  our  country  is  now  in  triumph  at  her 
great  naval  success.  Have  we  not  this  moment, 
as  it  were,  heard  of  another  brilliant  achievement 
upon  the  ocean  ?  The  United  States  ship  Pea- 
cock, on  her  first  cruise  after  she  left  the  stocks, 
captured  and  brought  into  port.  His  Majesty's  ship 
L'Epervier,  of  equal  size,  with  immense  sums  of 
ailver  and  much  treasure  on  board  ? 

From  the  success  of  American  arms,  which  have 
already  astonished  our  enemies,  we  have  nothing 
to  fear ;  and  we  have  the  greatest  reason  to  he- 


103 


lieve  that  the  American  cause  is  big  with  the  most 
wonderful  achievements  ;  that  the  exploits  of  our 
countrymen  in  arms,  in  the  present  contest,  will 
astonish  ail  nations,  and  be  recorded  on  the  pages 
of  history,  and  remain  in  the  choicest  archieves  of 
posterity,  with  equal  glory  to  those  of  Marathon 
and  Thermopylae. 

Fellow  prisoners,  let  us  then  be  resigned  to  our 
present  unhappy  condition ;  and  through  the  great 
exertion  of  our  country,  and  the  assistance  of  Di- 
vine Providence,  who  disposes  of  events  and  go- 
verns futurity,  we  may  hope  once  more  to  revisit 
our  native  country  in  an  honourable  peace,  and 
live  happy  and  free. 

After  the  oration  was  delivered,  the  officers  that 
were  on  the   walls,  entered  the  prison  yard,  and 
expressed  the  greatest  surprise  that  we  should  en- 
tertain a  hope   that  the  United  States  would  be 
.successful  in  a  war  with  Great  Britain,  when  she 
was  at  peace  with  all  other  nations.     But  for  con- 
?olation  to  us  in  our  present  condition,  we  might 
rest  fully  assured  that  we  should  be  released  in  a 
very   short    time   by   a  peace,    which  would  be 
brought  about  by    their  conquering  the  United 
States,  and  reducing  them  to  colonies  again ;  and 
such  a  change,  which  must  shortly  take   place, 
they  said  must  be  imputed  entirely  to  the  bad  man- 
agement of  our  President  and  Congress  :  we  have 


104 

now  conquered  France,  and  America  mustbecon« 
que  red  next.  We  found  them  ignorant  of  the 
strength  and  resources  of  the  American  people  ; 
we  gave  them  a  particular  account  of  the  situation 
of  America,  her  means  of  defence,  and  the  spirit 
and  determination  of  the  people ;  the  great  supe- 
riority of  gunnery,  which  the  American  seamen 
possessed  over  those  of  Great  Britain  ;  the  truth 
of  which  was  shown  in  the  actions  of  the  Guer- 
riere,  Frolic,  Java,  &;c.  &c. 

They  left  the  yard  much  chagrined  at  these 
facts,  which  they  could  not  deny  ;  and  remarking 
that  they  were  surprised  to  find  sailors  so  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  politics  of  both  countries,  but 
that  they  believed  they  must  be  most  of  them 
Englishmen  born,  and  that  it  was  a  very  great 
pity  His  Majesty  should  be  deprived  of  so  many 
valuable  seamen. 

At  two  o'clock  we  sat  down  to  our  fourth  of 
July  dinner,  which  was  composed  of  soup  and 
beef,  the  best  we  could  prepare.  We  gathered  in 
parties  with  the  greatest  animation,  conversing  of 
our  President  and  Congress,  foi  when:  we  sailors 
have  the  greatest  respect ;  and  Mr.  Madison,  par- 
ticularly, is  a  great  favourite  of  sailers.  After 
dinner  we  had  a  song,  Avhich  was  composed  for 
the  occasion. 


105 

The  day  was  passed  in  the  greatest  harm(^ny> 
no  quarrel  or  strife  occurred  to  mar  its  pleasure. 
The  next  day,  every  man  resumed  his  occupation 
and  seemed  to  enjoy  a  negative  happiness,  wi.ich 
arose  from  a  freedom  from  absolute  pain. 

On  the  eighth  of  this  month  a  friend  of  mine, 
for  whom  I  had  much  respect,  died,  and  at  his  bu- 
rial I  took  occasion  to  survey  the  vast  tenements 
of  the  dead,  and  consider  within  myself  what 
innumerable  multitudes  of  people  lay  confused  to- 
gether on  this  moor;  how  friends  and  enemies, 
officers  and  soldiers,  the  brave  and  the  coward, 
collected  from  all  quarters  of  the  globe,  of  all  na- 
tions, and  of  all  colours,  lay  undistinguished  in. 
one  common  mass  of  matter :  and  not  a  stone  to 
name  one  tenant  of  the  tomb. 

After  having  surveyed  this  great  magazine  of 
mortality  as  it  were,  in  the  lump,  out  of  respect 
to  my  friend,  I  searched  about  and  obtained  a  very 
slaty  stone,  on  which  I  inscribed  the  following 
words ; 

Here  lies  the  body  of 
JAMES  HART, 

a  native  of  the  United  States  of 

America, 

.who  departed  this  life  July  8th,  1B14. 
K 


106 

Under  which  was  the  following  epitaph. 

Your  country  mourns  yovir  hapless  fate  ; 
So  mourn  we  prisoners  all ; 
You've  paid  the  debt  we  all  must  pay, 
Each  sailor  great  and  small. 

Your  body  on  this  barren  moor, 
Your  soul  in  Heaven  doth  rest, 
Where  Yankee  sailors,  one  and  all, 
Hereafter  will  be  blest. 

The  agent  permitted  us  to  put  this  stone  up. 
and  of  the  many  thousands  that  lay  indiscrimi- 
nately mingled  together  upon  this  moor,  this 
stone  recorded  the  only  syllable  of  the  dead  bu- 
ried here.  The  life  of  these  men  is  finely  descri- 
bed in  Holy  Writ  by  the  path  of  an  arrow,  which 
is  immediately  closed  up  and  lost. 

We  received  our  monthly  pay  as  usual,  and  no- 
thing remarkable  occurred  during  the  remainder 
of  the  month  ;  few  persons  arrived,  but  vre  had 
expectation  of  a  great  number.  The  weather  was 
rainy  and  cold  ;  the  prisoners  generally  healthy  ; 
few  died,  but  the  prison  was  very  much  crowded, 
there  being  1500  in  No.  4. 

At  the  commencement  of  August,  a  draft  of 
prisoners  arrived,  who  had  been  recently  captured 


Mm 


107 

on  the  coast  of  Europe,  among  whom  were  fouv 
men  lately  belonging  to  the  private  armed  schoon- 
er Surprise  of  Baltimore  ;  these  four  men  on  their 
first  arrival  at  this  depot.  Were  put  into  close  con- 
finement in  the  cachet,  there  to  remain  on  two- 
thirds  allowance,  without  hammock  or  bed,  sleep- 
ing on  the  stone  floor,  during  their  Avhole  impris- 
onment. When  the  cause  of  their  confinement 
was  known,  it  seems  it  had  grown  out  of  the  follow^- 
ing  circumstances. 

The  Surprise  was  cruising  in  the  channel  of 
England,  and  fell  in  with,  and  captured  a  schoon- 
er, and  put  on  board  her  these  four  men,  to  take 
charge  of  the  prize. 

Shortly  after,  the  prize  was  re-captured  by  an 
English  frigate,  and  after  taking  possession  of  her, 
found  stowed  away  in  the  round  house,  (which  is 
a  few  feet  above  the  deck,)  a  cask  of  powder, 
which  contained  but  a  few  pounds  at  most,  and 
on  examination  they  found  part  of  a  match  and  a 
candle  ;  the  captain  of  the  frigate  being  suspicious 
of  these  four  men's  having  an  intention  to  blow 
the  vessel  up,  took  them  and  committed  them  to 
close  confinement  until  he  arrived  in  England  ;  ho 
then  reported  them  to  the  Board  of  Transport  and 
delivered  them  into  their  custody,  and  they,  from 
these  suspicious  circumstances,  sentenced  them 
to  the  punishment   above   mentioned.     Whether 


108 

ihe  crime,  had  it  been  well  proved,  would  war- 
I'ant  so  rigorous  a  punishment,  is  not  the  subject 
of  investigation  j  they  had  the  power  to  treat  them 
as  they  pleased,  nor  had  the  sufferers  any  redress, 
for,  inter  armis  lages  silent,  "  the  laws  are  silent 
amid  arms." 

On  the  arrival  of  these  prisoners,  Capt.  Short- 
land  opened  the  south  yard  of  the  enclosure,  and 
gave  all  the  officers  liberty  to  go  into  No.  6  ;  a 
few  days  after,  a  habeas  corpus  ad  testificandum 
was  awarded  to  bring  forward  six  prisoners,  to 
appear  and  give  evidence  in  the  cause  of  Thomas 
Hill,  then  depending  at  the  next  Exeter  assizes, 
who  was  charged  with  man-slaughter  for  killing 
James  Henry  on  the  third  of  July.  The  termi- 
nation of  the  trial,  I  shall  give  in  a  subsequent 
page. 

The  prisoners  having  no  expectation  or  hope  of 
exchange,  or  a  peace,  noAV  set  about  contriving  a 
method  of  escape,  something  of  which  we  hinted 
at  in  a  preceding  page.  The  plan  was  to  dig  out 
of  prison  No.  6.  The  plan  was  made  known  to 
the  prisoners  in  No.  4,  who  were  expecting  to  be 
removed  into  No.  G,  in  a  few  days,  when  they 
would  have  access  to  No.  5,  6,  and  7,  which  were 
contained  in  one  yard.  To  have  the  plan  circu- 
lated with  the  greatest  secrecy,  that  would  ob- 
tain the  opinion  of  all  the  prisoners,  without  the 


109 

suspicion  of  the  guards,  or  officers  ;  it  was  thought 
best  to  have  it  done  in  poetry,  and  accordingly  it 
was  done  in  that  manner.  This  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  the  prisoners,  and  we  soon  found  the 
intention  of  each  man  to  favour  the  plan. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  August,  the  six  men  whom 
we  mentioned  in  the  preceding  page,  were  taken 
to  Exeter,  returned,  and  with  them  Thomas  Hill, 
Avho  was  acquitted  by  the  jury,  and  he  remanded 
to  Dartmoor  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 

The  same  day  arrived  a  large  draft  of  prisoners 
who  had  been  sent  from  Halifax  prison  on  board 
the  Transport  ship  Bensen.  These  persons  on 
their  passage  attempted  to  rise  and  take  the  ship, 
in  which  attempt  a  sharp  contest  ensued,  and  the 
struggle  was  for  some  time  doubtful,  but  the  Amer- 
ican prisoners  vfere  overpowered  and  afterwards 
treated  with  the  greatest  severity  and  cruelty. 
In  the  engagement  several  on  both  sides  were 
severely  wounded,  but  none  killed,  or  mortally 
wounded.  Some  of  the  prisoners  were  taken  out 
and  put  on  board  the  ship  C-ommodore,  and  the  re- 
mainder confined  in  the  coal-hole,  and  kept  on 
bread  and  water  for  several  days. 

These  prisoners  were  put  into  No.  6,  which 
now  made  about  eight  hundred  in  tJiat  prison  and 
about  twelve  hundred  in  No.  4,  who  were  not  yet 
removed. 


110 


We  finding  our  number  increasing  daily  and  no 
prospect  of  peace  or  exchange,  now  delerrhined  to 
put  in  execution  our  projected  plan  of  escape;  ev- 
ery prisoner  being  willing,  and  not  a  dissenting  ' 
voice  among  the  Avhole,  we  mustered  a  number  of 
bibles  in  each  prison,  and  began  to  solemnly 
swear  every  man  to  keep  secret  every  transaction 
he  should  see  or  know  of  concerning  the  operation 
then  about  to  be  begun  ;  when  a  man  was  sworn, 
he  was  strictly  cautioned  and  charged  not  to  make 
known  by  word  or  sign,  in  any  way  whatever,  any 
thing  which  might  lead  to  a  discovery  of  their  de- 
sign, on  pain  of  immediate  death  in  a  private  and 
secret  manner,  which  would  most  assuredly  take 
place  vvithout  the  knowledge  of  the  keepers. 

After  they  were  all  sw^orn,  and  the  fixed  deter- 
mination of  hanging  the  first  informer,  a  num- 
ber of  confidential  persons  were  appointed  as 
spies,  to  watch  the  conduct  of  others.  We  also 
appointed  other  trusty  men  to  watch  the  move- 
ments of  the  turnkeys,  and  senteries  ;  and  see  that 
the  prisoners  held  no  conversation  with  either  of 
them.  We  then  divided  ourselves  into  parties 
to  work,  and  who  were  alternately  to  dig,  and  re- 
lieve each  other. 

After  taking  a  correct  survey  of  the  ground 
measuring   and   making  it  out,    and  taking   the 


Ill 

course,  on  the  twentieth  we  made  a  beginning 
in  both  prisons,  and  dug  directly  down.  In  this 
perpendicular  direction,  we  must  sink  our  work 
twenty  feet,  which  woukl  come  on  a  horizontal 
pk\ne  with  the  road.  On  this  horizontal  plane  we 
must  then  pursue  the  work,  in  an  eastern  direction, 
:wo  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  which  distance  would 
carry  us  beyond  the  outer  Avail  and  under  all  the 
foundations  which  extended  below  the  surface  of 
the  earth,  about  six  feet ;  if  this  work  were  per- 
formed v/e  should  then  have  a  passage  into  the 
road.  The  digging  could  be  carried  on  with  very 
Ittle  difficulty;  but  the  great  obstacle  before  us, 
vv?.s  to  convey  away  the  dirt,  and  this  on  a  little 
consideration  seemed  to  vanish,  when  we  consid- 
ered the  stream  of  water  in  the  yard  which  passed 
under  the  prison  at  the  rate  of  four  miles  an  hour  ; 
into  this  stream  we  threw  great  quantities  of  fine 
dirt,  which  passed  off.  We,  as  another  means  to 
get  clca';  of  the  dirt,  obtained  permission  to  bring 
ir.to  the  prisGii  a  large  quantity  of  lime,  under  the 
pretence  of  wiiite-washing  the  walls  of  the  prison. 

These  walls  were  made  of  large  rough  stone, 
and  every  night  we  made  of  the  dirt  a  sort  of  mor- 
^er,  and  plastered  on  the  walls,  and  then  white- 
washed it  over. 

No  5  prison  containing  no  prisoners,  and  not  be- 
ing visited  by  the  keepers,  we  thought  best  to  be- 


112 

gin  a  similar  operation  in  that  prison,  as  we  could 
pass  and  repass  into  it  unknown  to  the  keepers. — 
In  this  we  commenced  digging  in  the  day-time,  and 
found  a  hollow  place  under  the  prison  to  stow  the 
dirt  away. 

In  these  three  different  places  we  made  our  at- 
tacks, and  very  rightly  supposing,  that  if  one 
should  be  discovered,  that  we  should  still  have  an- 
other, which  we  could  proceed  in  without  suspi- 
cion ;  we  were  apprehensive,  that  the  run  of  wa- 
ter, which  passed  through  an  iron  grating  at  the 
oudet,  might  get  stopped  with  the  dirt,  and  lead 
to  a  discovery.  We  hastened  on  the  work,  every 
man  as  busy  as  a  bee,  and  flushed  with  the  hope 
and  full  behef  that  we  should  shortly  make  our 
esca}:)e. 

At  the  close  of  the  month,  we  had  dug  toward 
the  wall  in  a  horizontal  direction  forty  feet,  without 
the  least  suspicion.  As  we  entered  so  far  under 
ground,  we  found  a  want  of  fresh  air,  and  to  re- 
medy this,  we  contrived  a  lamp  to  keep  burning  in 
the  hole,  that  would  expel  all  the  azotic  gas,  or 
dead  air,  and  bring  in  a  constant  supply  of  fresh. 

I  must  digress  for  a  moment,  to  give  an  account 
of  some  events  which  took  place  during  this  ope- 
ration. 

In  the  mean  while  a  number  of  prisoners  arri- 
ved, some  from  Chatham,  some  from  the  West  Ik- 


113 

dies,  and  from  other  places.  These,  as  soon  a5 
they  arrived,  were  made  acquainted  with  our  de- 
sign an  i  operations,  and  sworn  and  charged  as  t^e 
others  had  been.  Among  these  prisoners  was  the 
crew  of  the  United  States  brig  FroHc.  These 
prisoners  were  destitute  of  clothing,  and  in  a  very 
bad  state  of  health,  which  was  occasioned  by  be- 
ing so  very  closely  confined  during  the  passage, 
and  their  allowance  so  very  short.  During  the 
month  we  had  great  quantities  of  rain,  which  was 
very  favourable  to  our  operations.  The  prisoners 
were  now  more  healthy  than  they  had  been  before 
since  our  confinement.  Those  who  had  been  sick  for- 
some  time,  died.  Those  who  had  been  here  a  long 
time,  had  become  used  to  the  hardships,  but  new 
comers  were  sickly. 

On  the  last  day  of  August,  our  subterraneous 
passage  was  sixty  feet  from  No.  5,  and  about  the 
same  from  No.  6,  and  No.  4  nearly  equal.  The 
dirt  being  very  loose,  and  but  few  stones  to  ob- 
struct our  way,  our  passage  seemed  short,  and 
promised  success. 

September  having  commenced,  and  no  suspicion 
or  discovery  as  yet  made,  although  the  prisons 
were  searched  every  day  by  the  keepers  ;  but  the 
holes  being  very  small,  and  so  nicely  closed  every 
day,  that  it  would  require  the  minutest  search  td 


114 

fliscovcr  the  place  ;   but  the  hole  was  larger  undeF 
ground,  and  would  admit  four  men  to  work  abreast. 

But,  to  our  groat  moriification,  on  the  second, 
Capt.  Shorlland  entered  the  prison  with  the  guards, 
and  went  directly  toAvards  the  hole,  and  as  he  pass- 
ed, he  informed  us  that  he  knew  of  our  operations 
in  No.  5,  but  his  informer  had  not  told  him  cor- 
rectly, for  after  a  long  search,  they  could  not  dis- 
cover the  hole. 

It  was  then  suggested  by  his  attendants  to  sound 
the  prison  ;  they  then  began  w4th  crow-bars  to 
sound,  and  after  having  made  the  minutest  exami- 
nation, by  accident  found  the  entrance,  to  the  great 
mortificaticrx  of  every  man. 

They  undertook  to  enter  the  hole,  but  after  en- 
tering a  few  feet,  their  lights  went  out,  and  they 
could  not  keep  them  burning ;  and  being  unac-  * 
quainted  with  the  materials,  and  method  used  by 
us  to  light  the  hole  and  expel  the  dead  air,  could 
not  penetrate  to  the  extent,  nor  did  they  ever 
enter  near  all  the  distance. 

They  were  no  less  astonished  to  conceive  what 
had  become  of  the  dirt  taken  from  the  passage,  and 
it  ever  remained  a  great  mystery  to  them. 

Every  man  was  strictly  cautioned,  should  any 
discovery  take  place,  not  to  give  an}'  account  what- 
ever  of  the  means  they  had  made  use  of  to  light 


the  hole,  or  how  they  had  disposed  of  the  dirt ;  and 
when  they  were  strictly  examined  by  the  ofRcers, 
they  gave  no  other  answer,  than  that  each  man 
eat  his  proportion,  to  make  up  his  scant  allo\rance. 

To  prevent  any  further  operation  of  this  kind^ 
Capt.  Shortland  had  every  prisoner  removed  from 
the  yard,  which  encloses  No.  6,  6,  and  7,  int6  the 
enclosure  on  the  north  side,  which  contained 
No.  1,  2,  and  3  ;  but  having  no  suspicions  of  any 
attempts  to  escape  in  No.  4,  tliey  let  the  prisoners 
there  remain. 

After  the  prisoners  vrere  removed  from  the  other 
two  })risons,  they  lillcd  the  entrance  of  the  hole 
up  with  stone  :  they  supposed  tliese  were  not 
eatable. 

We  remained  in  No.  2  till  the  eighth,  when  v.e 
were  aicain  removed  to  the  south  side,  on  account 
of  prison  No.  2  being  out  of  repair.  This  gave  us 
fresh  hopes.  As  the  noise  had  not  yet  entirely  got 
silent,  we  thought  best  to  stop  all  operations  in 
No.  4  for  the  present. 

In  the  mean  while,  our  court  of  judicature  was 
sitting,  and  several  persons  were  arraigned  at  the 
bar,  and  charged  with  having  given  information  of 
our  design  to  escape  ;  all  the  evidence  against 
them  was  produced,  but  the  crime  being  of  a  capi- 
ted  nature  by  our  laws,  required  positive  and  di- 
rect evidence,  which  the  court  considered  Jiad  no'- 


116 

been  produced  ;  and  although  very  strong  circum- 
stantial evidence  had  been  given,  yet  they  consid- 
ered that  such  evidence  ought  never  to  take  a 
man's  life,  which  must  have  been  the  case  had 
any  one  been  found  guilty. 

We  afterwards  believed  it  must  have  been  acci- 
dental ;  that  some  person  had  spoken  too  loud,  or 
in  an  unguarded  manner  in  the  presence  of  the 
turnkeys ;  for  we  found  no  discovery  had  been 
made  of  the  operations  in  No.  4  or  5,  although 
Capt.  Shortland  had  declared  himself  to  be  ac- 
quainted Avith  them  in  No.  5. 

After  the  bustle  of  the  discovery  had  a  little 
blown  over,  and  the  officers  and  keepers  had  ridi- 
culed the  futile  idea  of  our  making  our  escape,  by 
saying  they  had  guards  and  spies  in  all  directions  ^ 
we  then  gave  orders  to  the  blacks  in  No.  4  to  pro- 
ceed on  with  their  work.  At  this  time,  the  10th, 
a  draft  of  prisoners  arrived  from  Chatham  ;  these 
were  mostly  men  delivered  up  from  ships  of  war 
in  England,  and  some  few  were  sent  from  the 
West  Indies,  Bermuda,  and  New  Providence. — 
This  draft  increased  the  number  of  prisoners  at 
this  dep:>t  to  three  thousand  five  hundred  in  all. 

When  these  men  arrived,  we  were  under  great 
apprehensions  that  they  would  be  ordered  into 
No.  5,  and  in  the  hurry  and  bustle  of  entering, 
before  they  were  cautioned,  might  lead  to  a  dis- 


covery  of  the  work  in  that  prison  ;  but  happily, 
they  were  ordered  into  No.  7,  and  all  the  white 
prisoners  from  No  4  ordered  in  with  them  ;  and 
all  the,  blacks  were  now  to  be  kept  by  themselves. 

They  were  directed  to  pixxiecd  as  we  mentioned 
before,  and  to  report  their  progress  every  evening. 
As  the  hole  in  No.  6  was  farthest  advanced,  we 
formed  a  communication  to  let  each  other  know 
their  progress  each  day,  that  all  the  holes  might 
proceed  with  equal  progress,  and  come  out  at  the 
same  time. 

With  this  arrangement  we  proceeded  on,  and 
on  the  12th,  in  No.  G,  we  dug  down,  and  the  next 
day  had  gone  quite  round  the  stones  which  were 
thrown  in  to  fill  up  the  entrance  of  the  hole,  and 
came  out  into  the  former  passage  :  this  was  done 
in  the  night,  and  in  the  day  time  we  carried  on  the 
work  in  No.  5,  disposing  of  the  dirt  as  before. 

The  work  went  on  with  the  greatest  care,  se- 
crecy and  success,  and  every  man  was  animated 
with  the  liveliest  hope  of  soon  gaining  his  hberty, 
till  each  hole  had  come  within  thirty-five  or  forty 
feet  of  the  intended  place  of  coming  out. 

We  could  always  ascertain  the  distance  we  were 
from  the  top  of  the  ground  by  measuring  with  our 
line  and  rule,  and  had  concluded  to  work  that  dis- 
tance in  one  week  :  every  man  was  now  provided 


118 

with  a  dagger,  made  by  prisoners  who  worked  at 
black-smithing. 

When  the  work  was  complete,  we  were  to  make 
«ur  move  some  dark  stormy  night  at  the  hour  of 
ten,  which  would  give  every  man  who  wished,  an 
opportunity  to  reach  Torbay,  about  ten  miles  dis- 
tance, at  which  place  lay  a  large   number  of  un- 
armed vessels,  fishing  boats  and  other  small  craft ; 
we  could  reach  this  place  a  little  after  midnight, 
and  then  proceed  as  fast  as  possible  for  France ; 
on  leaving  the  outlet  of  the  passage  every  man  was 
to  separate  and  take  care  of  himself.     When  we 
were  once  out,  we  had  determined  to  reach  France 
or  sell  our  lives  at  the  dearest  rate  ;  for,  by  this 
time,  life  was  of  little  consequence  to  us,  when  we 
compared  it  to  the  miseries  we  must  suffer,  if  we 
should  be  brought  back,  and  therefore  we  were  de- 
termined to  hazard  it  at  all  events. 

But  I  hasten  from  our  future  resolutions  to  re- 
lieve the  reader  from  his  anxiety,  by  showing  the 
event. 

At  this  moment,  when  every  man  was  well 
pleased  with  the  prospect,  how^  was  his  just  indig- 
nation raised,  and  his  fierce  anger  kindled  I — a 
man  by  the  name  of  ^Bagley,  another  Sinon, 
walked  out  in  open  day,  before  all  the  prisoners 

*  '^  This  roan  belonged  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H. 


119 

then  in  the  yard,  went  up  to  the  turnkeys  anU 
marched  off  with  them  to  the  keeper's  house,  gave 
him  information  of  all  tlie  operatio]is  and  designs? 
and  we  never  saw  him  after ;  for  could  wC  have 
catched  him,  we  should  scarcely  have  tried  him, 
but  should  have  torn  him  in  atoms  before  the  lite 
could  have  time  to  leave  his  traitorous  body. 

This  Judas  received  the  price  of  his  iniquity 
from  the  Transport  Board,  and  got  a  passport  to 
go  where  he  pleased,  and  the  publick's  humbl^; 
servant  put  into  the  cachot ; — but  I  can  tell  him, 
should  this  work  ever  reach  his  infamous  hand, 
that  it  is  the  sincere  wish  of  every  prisoner,  that 
he  may  fall,  and  like  that  other  Judas,  his  bowels 
may  gush  out. 

The  prisoners  were  then  immediately  removed 
to  the  north  side  of  the  enclosure,  and  confined  to 
No.  1  and  3  ;  and  to  repair  the  damages  which 
had  been  done  to  the  prisons,  Capt.  Shortland  put 
every  man  on  two  thirds  allowance,  and  took  the 
other  third  to  pay  expenses  of  repair ;  this  he  did 
for  ten  days  successively  ;  if  we  had  eaten  the  dirt 
up,  we  had  to  starve  it  back  again. 

Our  hopes  were  all  blown  up  to  the  moon,  and 
we  left  to  despair ;  we  had  no  prospect  by  which 
we  could  hope  to  be  relieved,  but  every  thing 
seemed  to  threaten  us  with  imprisonment  for  life. 
We  again  resigned  ourselves  to  our  situation,  an«i 


120 

jdiaced  all  our  hopes  of  life  or  liberty  on  that  Al- 
mighty arm,  vrhich  had  brought  us  to  these  suffer- 
ings by  His  Divine  pleasure.  Every  man  with 
reluctance  now  returns  to  his  usual  occupation, 
hoping  to  gain  a  few  articles  of  clothing,  which 
he  stood  in  need  of.  The  shoes  furnished  by  Mr. 
Beaslcy,  which  were  the  poorest  that  could  be 
made  in  England,  were  now  worn  out,  and  we 
needed  others. 

It  was  reported  among  the  prisoners,  that  an 
exchange  was  about  to  take  place  ;  but  as  we 
had  no  account  to  that  effect  from  Mr.  Beasley, 
w^e  could  place  no  dependence  on  it  ;  the  only 
hope  we  had  was  in  bribing  the  guards,  and  that 
©f  peace. 

By  letters  from  Plymouth,  v*e  had  information 
that  an  action  had  been  fought  between  the  Essex, 
Capt.  Porter,  and  the  British  frigate  Phebe,  Capt. 
Hillier,  and  a  sloop  of  war.  The  action  w^as 
long  and  severe,  and  much  blood  spilt  on  both 
sides  ;  and  although  the  Essex  was  taken,  the  ho- 
nour of  the  day  belonged  to  the  Americans.  She 
fought  under  every  disadvantage,  and  gallantly 
stood  the  fire  of  both  the  enemy's  vess'cls,  and 
bore  hard  for  a  victory,  till  chance  decided  against 
her.  The  magnanimity  of  the  officers  and  crew 
commands  the  noblest  sentiments  of  respect  from 
every  American  :  they  deserved  no  comm.on  meed 


121 

of  praise ;    I    therefore    undertook   to   celebrau: 
their  valorous  deeds  in  verse. 

A  large  draft  of  prisoners  from  Chatham,  arri- 
ved at    this  place   the  latter  end  of  this  month; 
among  them    were  great  numbers  of  men,   who 
had   been  detained  on  board  His  Majesty's  ships 
from  eight  to  twelve  years,  and  one  who  had  been 
detained   eighteen   years.     The  greatest  part  of 
this  dralt  were   men  who   had  been  delivered   up 
from  the  navy  :  they   were  collected  at  Chatham, 
and  brought  round  by  water  to  Plymouth,  landed, 
;ind  then  ordered  to  prepare  to  march  for  Dart- 
moor prison,  tlie  sufferings    of    which  they  had 
long  been  acquainted  with,  by  report  ;  but   pre- 
vious to  their  departure,  they,   anticipating  their 
treatment  there,  prepared  the  following  motto,  in 
capitals,  and  fixed  it  to  the  fore  part  of  their  hats  r 
^' British  gratitude,  for  past  services.'^''     With  this 
on  their  hats,  they  marched  the  distance  of  eigh- 
teen miles.     During  the  march,  the  officers  tried 
every  means  to  persuade  them  to  take  it  off,   but 
they  absolutely  refused,  saying,  it  was  truth,  and 
as  prisoners  of  war,  they  had  a  just  cause  to  com- 
plain  of   the    treatment    and    ingratitude    of    a 
government  which  they  had  so  long  served.    They 
insisted  that  it  was  cruelty  to  make  them  prisoners, 
after  they  had  served  so  many  years  as   good  and 
fuuliful  servants  j  and  it  was  much  more  ungratc- 
L2 


122 

ful  now,  to  send  them  to  the  worst  prison  in  Eng- 
land, as  a  compensation  for  their  long  and  faith- 
ful services. 

The  garrison  was  now  reinforced  by  a  large 
number  of  soldiers,  and  the  prisoners  separated ; 
ihe  v.hites,  in  the  north  and  south  wing,  occup}/ing 
two  prisons  in  each  yard,  and  the  blacks,  one  in 
the  centre.  The  prisoners  were  not  permitted 
to  have  intercourse  with  one  another  from  the 
.different  prisons,  except  on  Sundays. 

The  number  being  now  very  large,  it  was  fear- 
ed they  would  rise,  and  take  possession  of  the 
guard  house,  and  then  make  their  escape.  They 
had  some  ground  to  fear  the  event  might  take 
place,  for  the  prisoners  did  not  consider  these 
walls,  nor  the  soldiers,  any  very  great  obstacle  in 
the  accom.plishment  of  such  an  undertaking,  had 
It  been  their  design.  But  they  knew  very  well 
the  consequence  of  doing  this  ;  although,  on  the 
first  sortie,  the  officers,  soldiers  and  guards,  must 
fall  into  their  power,  yet  as  the  prisoners  must  all 
march  in  a  body  to  keep  them  under,  the  alarm 
would  spread  over  all  England,  and  the  militia  be 
raised  upon  them,  before  they  would  be  able  to 
reach  the  sea'coast  and  take  shipping. 

Capt.  Shortland  was  in  daily  fear  of  such  an 
attack,  for  there  was  scarce  a  day  but  some  dis- 
^pute  or  strife  took  place,  between   the   turnkeys 


123 

&r  guards  and  the  prisoners,  and  kept  a  continual 
alarm.  The  prisoners  Avould  not  hear  any  abu- 
sive language  against  the  President  of  the  United 
States  ;  and  on  the  first  disrespectful  word  from  a 
sentery,  stationed  singly  in  the  yard,  they  would 
knock  him  down,  and   he  could  get   no  relief,  till 

^4hey  were  willing  to  release  him,  for  the  prisoners 
immediately   surrounded  him  by    hundreds  ;  and 

*the  garrison  declared  that  they  had  more  trouble 
with  four  thousand  Americans,  than  they  should 
have  with  twenty  thousand  Frenchmen. 

On  the  last  day  of  this  month,  another  draft  ar- 
rived, among  whom  were  the  crew  of  the  United 
States  brig  Rattle  Snake  and  some  others,  sent 
from  Halifax. 

The  prisoners  became  sickly  again,  and  up- 
wards of  one  hundred  in  the  Hospital ;  but  they 
had  much  better  attendance  than  before,  having 
now  a  new  surgeon,  Doct.  Magrath,  to  su}}erin- 
tend  that  department ;  he  was  a  humane,  skilful 
and  attentive  man,  and  a  friend  to  the  sick  and 
distressed  prisoner.  I  know  of  nothing  more 
agreeable  to  the  human  feelings,  than  the  presence 
of  a  friend  by  our  sick  bed  ;  and  this  man  admin- 
istered more  of  the  medicine  of  life  by  the  sympa- 
thetic emotions  of  his  heart,  than  all  the  anodynes 
in  the  apothecary's  shop. 


124 

We  had  much  rain  and  stormy  weather  during 
the  rnontii  of  September.    One  tedious  month  had 
now  passed  by,  and  another  lay  in  hopeless  pros- 
pect before  us  ;  but  our  hopes  were  a  little  revived 
on  the  second  of  October  by  a  letter,  -which  we 
received   from   Mr.   Beasley,   informing  us  that  a 
partial  exchange   would  take   place  between  the> 
two  countries.     This  exchange  would   extend   to    , 
none    but    those    taken     in     the    United    State^"^^ 
vessels  ;  this  letter  w-as  to  inform  the  crew  of  the 
Argus  more  particularly,  as  they  -were  the  oldest 
prisoners    taken    in  the  United  States  service. — 
The  same   letter  gave  general   information,  that 
there  was  great  prospects  of  a  speedy  peace   be- 
tween the  two  beiligerants. 

Several  persons  made  ihcir  escape  by  briling  the 
senteries,  after  this  neics,  and  passing  out  in  the 
night,  with  a  soldier's  coat  and  cap  on,  under  his 
protection.  But  this  method  was  discovered  and 
stopped,  and  eight  only  were  able  to  make  their 
escape  by  it. 

We  received  the  account  of  the  United  States 
ship  Wasp,  sinking  the  Reindeer  and  Avon. 
Tiie  particulars  seemed  too  galling  to  their  feel- 
ings to  publish.  After  reading  the  account  in  the 
London  paper,  I  composed  a  dirge,  and  put  it  up 
©n  the  front  of  the  prison,  in  fall  sight  of  all  the 


125 

soklier-oliicers  atid  guards,  as  a  tribute  of  respect 
to  the  departed  worthies  of  His  Majesty's  navy. 

Almost  every  draft  of  prisoners  brought  intelli- 
gence of  new  victories  of  the  Americans  by  sea, 
and  every  British  paper  was  filled  with  complaints 
of  American  privateers  destroying  British  proper- 
ty in  their  own  waters,  and  in  sight  of  their  cities. 
The  prisoners  being  animated  with  the  success  of 
the  arms  of  their  country,  could  not  forbear  ex- 
pressing their  joy  in  some  pleasant  feat.  The 
following  anecdote  has  something  of  the  features 
of  the  attack  of  Don  Quixotte  on  the  wind-mill. 
The  prisoners  the  night  after  the  news  of  the  Wasp, 
took  a  jacket  at  twelve  at  night,  lowered  it  down 
towards  the  ground  along  the  rope  of  the  prison  ; 
the  soldiers  saw  it  and  concluded  it  must  be  a  man 
sliding  down  the  rope  to  make  his  escape  ;  the 
alarm  was  given,  and  Capt.  Shortland  and  zM  the 
soldier-olHcers,  at  the  head  Oi  the  picket,  entered, 
and  hailed  the  man  on  the  rope,  but  no  answer ; 
they  then  drew  themselves  up  in  martial  array, 
and  every  man  sat  his  teeth  and  screwed  his  cour- 
age up  to  the  sticking  place,  ready  for  battle  , 
Capt.  Shortland,  an  experienced  officer,  gave  or- 
ders to  fire,  and  instantly  a  volley  of  musket*  y 
Vv'as  poured  in  upon  the  enemy,  and  down  came 
the  jacket  ;  they  rushed  in  upon  it,  and  to  thciv 
astonishment;  they  had  conquered  a  jacket. 


126 

The  keepers  who  had  been  so,  insolent  the  day 
before,  by  v/ishing  Mr.  Madison  in  the  prison,  now 
showed  great  resentment,  anc]  gave  themselves 
many  airs  upon  the  occasion.  The  soldiers  dis- 
covered a  candle  burning  in  the  prison,  and  called 
aloud,  "  put  out  that  candle  ;"  but  the  order  not 
being  instantly  obeyed,  they  discharged  a  volley 
through  the  window  ;  but  a  divine  interposition 
of  goodness  seemed  to  direct  the  balls,  for  every 
one  lodged  in  some  part  of  the,  hammocks,  which 
almost  formed  a  solid  column,  and  not  a  single 
man  hurt  or  touched,  though  asleep  in  the  ham- 
mocks. The  next  morning,  I  thought  the  battle 
with  the  jacket  and  the  attack  on  the  sleeping 
prisoners  deserved  to  be  celebrated  in  some  sig- 
nal way,  and  sung  like  the  deeds  of  the  gallant 
Quixotte. 

It  had  been  remarked  by  the  prisoners  that, 
about  the  time  of  some  reverse  of  the  arms  of  the 
enemy,  the  keepers  treated  them  with  much 
greater  severity,  and  seemed  to  wish  to  wreak 
their  vengeance  in  retaliation  on  the  prisoners. 

On  the  eighteenth,  orders,  together  with  a  list 
of  names,  came,  to  discharge  sixty-two  of  the  crew 
of  the  late  United  States'  brig  Frolic,  who  had 
been  exchanged,  and  were  to  repair  immediately 
to  Dartmouth,  thirty  miles  from  the  depot,  to  go 
on  board  the  artel  Janey,  then  lying  at  that  placo. 


127 

with  the  greater  part  of  her  number,  which  con- 
sisted of  prisoners  late  belonging  to  the  United 
States'  navy  and  army. 

Those  sixty-two  of  the  Frolic,  were  obliged  to 
carry  the  baggage  themselves  or  leave  it  behind, 
for  they  were  allowed  no  means  to  transport  it. 
Twelve  miles  of  the  distance  is  water  carriage  ; 
the  other  eighteen  is  land ;  this  distance  they  had 
to  march  on  foot :  they  received  a  shilling  each 
man,  and  one  day's  provision  at  the  commencement 
of  the  journey. 

By  letters  from    Plymouth,   we  received   intel- 
ligence that  another   cartel,  the    St.   Philip,  was 
preparing  to    take  on  board  part  of  her  compli- 
ment at  that  place,  then  to  proceed  to  Dartmouth, 
and  receive  the  crev/  of  the   late   United  States' 
brig  Argus,  and   her  officers,  and  non-combatants 
from  Asliburton.  The  same  letters  informed  us  that 
all   the  prisoners    in   England,  theri   nearly  five 
thousand,  would  shortly  be  removed  to  this  prison  ; 
and    accordingly  at  the  latter  end  of  this    month 
they  all  were  removed  to  this  depot,  and  made, 
with  some  few  lately  from  sea,  five  thousand  and 
twenty.     They  were  badly  prepared  to  stand  the 
I   inclemency  of  the  approaching  season  ;  they  were 
all  miserably  clothed,  and  the  shoes  they  had  re- 
ceived from  Mr.  Beasley  lasted  but  a  few  weeks, 
and  tiiey  were  now  quite  destitute,  and  very  sickly, 


128 


rjuid  the  weather  cold  and  stormy  for  several  days 
together.  On  the  third  we  received  a  letter  from 
Mr.  Baasley,  informing  us  that  his  clerk,  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, was  on  his  way  from  London  to  this  place 
with  clothing,  which  he  would  distribute  among 
the  prisoners  captured  since  the  middle  of  last 
May,  and  to  those  captured  before  that  date,  he 
would  deliver  one  shirt,  and  one  pair  of  shoes  and 
stockings,  which  should  be  their  supply  for  nine 
months.  The  old  prisoners  stated  their  situation 
to  Mr.  Beasley  by  letter  at  the  same  date,  and  in- 
formed him  that  they  were  in  need  of  clothing : 
that  what  they  received  in  May  was  worn  out,  also 
their  shoes,  and  that  they  w^ere  not  supplied  with 
sufficient  bedding  to  make  them  any  way  comfort- 
able through  the  approaching  winter,  especially  as 
they  were  sickly,  and  had  the  small-pox  in  the 
prison,  and  that  they  should  not  be  able  to  emdure 
the  hardships  of  their  condition,  though  their  tvvo 
and  a  halfpence  a  day  was  some  relief:  yet  as  ail 
the  workmen  were  turned  into  prison,  and  not 
permitted  to  go  out  any  more  on  account  of  one 
man  whom  we  believe  to  be  Capt.  Sv/ain  of  New- 
Bedford,  Pilassachusetts,  taking  a  very  sudden 
move  and  leaving  the^whole  establishment,  with- 
out giving  notice  ;  this  left  them  unprovided  with 
sufficient  means  to  take  care  of  themselves. 


/^- 


129 

"  Now  the  surly  blasts  of  chill  November  had 
made  all  surrounding  nature  wear  the  sad  aspect 
of  decay,  and  the  bare-footed  prisoner  stood  shiv- 
erino;  by  the  walls,  in  the  pale  and  feeble  ray  of  a 
winter  sun,  when  Mr.  Williams  arrived  v.ith  the 
clothing,  as  was  expected,  and  on  the  third  saw 
the  crew  of  the  Argus  take  their  departure  from 
this  prison,  to  go  on  board  the  St.  Philip,  then  ly- 
ing at  Dartmouth,  bound  for  the  United  ^ates. 
The  draft  of  this  crew  consisted  of  one-hundred, 
which  was  all  that  was  taken  from  this  place  ;  she 
had  previously  taken  in  her  complement,  except 
this  number,  at  Chatham.  Shortly  after  her  sail- 
ing from  Dartmouth  she  was  so  unfortunate  as  to 
spring  her  mast,  and  obliged  to  return  into  port* 
At  this  time  the  Phebe,  and  the  late  United 
States'  frigate  Essex,  arrived  in  England.  The 
editors  who  published  the  arrival  of  these  two 
ships,  made  no  remark  or  observation  whatever, 
only  barely  said  they  had  arrived. 

The  reader  will  not  have  forgotten  the  circum- 
stance of  the  four  men,  whom  we  mentioned  vrere 
committed  to  close  confinement,  during  the  war,  oh 
suspicion  of  an  intention  to  blow  up  the  ship. 
We,  at  this  time,  made  application  to  the  Board  of 
Transport,  to  mitigatethe  punishment  of  these  four 
men,  late  of  the  Surprise  ;  and  who  had  remained 
ever  since  in  close  confinement  in  the  cachot,  but 
M 


I 


fl30 

our  petition  was  not  granted  ;  the  board  said,  the 
sentence  had  passed  and  could  not  be  recalled, 
they  must  suffer  according  to  the  sentence.  These 
poor  fellows  had  endured  the  three  months  im- 
prisonment with  a  magnanimity  becoming  Ameri- 
cans. The  prisoners  seeing  they  could  not  get 
them  relieved,  agreed  to  allow  them  a  half-penny 
a  month  out  of  every  man's  pay,  which  was  cheer- 
fully done  by  every  man.  They  supplied  them 
with  such  articles  as  the  board  would  allow  them 
to  have. 

Our  hope  now  brightened  amidst  the  clouds  of 
sufferings  and  despair,  by  the  reports  from  Ghent 
of  a  speedy  peace  :  which  swelled  CYery  London 
paper. 

The  guards,  both  officers  and  soldiers,  stationed 
here,  were  much  disaffected  with  the  government  of 
the  country  :  and  informed  us,  that  the  military 
through  the  whole  kingdom  had  the  same  disaf- 
fection, and  that  they  had  gone  so  far  as  to  in- 
lorm  the  government  in  direct  terms,  that  if  a 
peace  did  not  take  place  before  the  first  of  April, 
that  they  would  lay  dovrn  their  arm^s. 

The  battle,  and  destruction  of  Washington,  had 
now  crossed  the  Atlantic,  and  was  sounding  with' 
great  applause  to  the  British  arms  ;  every  paper 
was  swelled  with  the  most  pompous  description  of 
the  great  battle,  and  the  unparalleled  bravery  and 


131 

magnanimity  of  their  oiiiccrs  and  soldicTs,  tiiat  had 
defeated  and  drove  the  whole  American  army, 
headed  by  Mr.  Madison  in  person,  and  that  they 
were  in  so  close  pursuit  of  him,  that  he  had  a  se- 
\cre  race  all  the  way  from  Bladcnsburgh  to 
Washington  ;  which  they  were  disposed  to  ridi- 
cule, by  comparing  to  John  Gilpin's  celebrated 
race. 

They  also  gave  a  description  of  Washington, 
which  they  declared  was  one  gf  the  greatest  cities  in 
th"b  known  world  :  the  grandeur  and  magnificence 
of  it  surpassed  that  of  Paris  or  London  ;  it  con- 
tained thirteen  hundred  spacious  squares.  But 
they  did  not  mention,  that  those  squares  contained 
no  houses  or  inhabitants. 

These  stories  could  not  gain  the  belief  of  persons 
acquainted  with  the  American  nation,  and  its  capi- 
tal, but  \vc  were  led  to  believe  that  the  conduct  on 
both  sides  deserved  much  censure,  and  that  the 
burning  of  that  capital  was  a  disgrace  to  both  na- 
tions, 

Nothing  very  material  occurred  among  the  priso- 
ners this  month  ;  they  received  their  monthly  pay 
as  usual,  but  were  more  sickly,  and  the  weather 
cold  and  tedious,  but  could. not  be  compared  with 
the  November  before.  The  prisoners,  though  far 
from  being  as  comfortable  as  they  ought  to  be 
-u  lib  red  much  less,  and  v/ere  in  a  better  condition 


132 

lo  endure  the  hardships  of  a  prison  than  the  year 
before,  now  they  were  supplied  with  one  pair  of 
shoes  and  stockings,  and  allowed  two  and  a  half 
pence  per  day.  They  did  not  shrink  at  the  ap- 
proaching season  so  much  as  before. 

Mr.  Williams  returned  to  London  at  the  end  of 
the  month ;  he  had  been  with  us  all  the  month,  dis- 
tributing  the  several  articles  above  mentioned. 

As  the  season  advanced  the  hard  weather  in- 
creased, and  the  snovv'  fell  in  great  abundance  in 
the  beginning  of  December,  and  the  prisoners 
much  chilled  with  the  cold,  applied  for  permission 
to  keep  fire,  as  had  been  permitted  to  the  French 
prisoners,  but  were  peremptorily  refused  and  ab- 
solutely forbid. 

But  to  make  the  best  of  these  evils  of  life,  they 
applied  themselves  every  man  to  som.e  occupation  ; 
they  endeavoured  to  cherish  and  keep  the  mind 
alive  if  the  body  decayed,  and  to  cultivate  that 
nobler  pan  of  our  being,  they  establiiihed  a  num- 
ber of  schools,  and  the  young  men  and  boys  were 
instructed  in  them  for  nearly  tv/o  years,  and  many 
of  them,  who  were  perfectly  unacquainted  with 
letters  when  they  came  to  this  prison,  had  acquired 
a  tolerable  education  in  the  English  branches  of 
science. 

There  has  from  the  earliest  ages  of  antiquity, 
"been  frequent  instances  of  men,  who  have  been 


133 

weary  of  life,  and  had  not  the  courage  and  forti- 
tude to  bear  those  ills  which  are  incident  to  it,  and 
have  therefore,  by  a  sort  of  false  heroism,  attempt- 
ed to  avoid  them  by  destroying  their  own  life.  The 
Stoic  philosophy,  which  seemed  to  be  a  cultivated 
degree  of  inscnsibihty,  encouraged  it,  and  called 
it  heroism  :  but  the  act  is  cowardly,  and  a  great 
offence  against  the  laws  of  God  and  man. 

I  have  thought  proper  to  premise  these  observa- 
tions, before  I  related  the  melancholy  instance  of 
a  young  man,  a  native  of  the  city  of  New  York, 
by  the  name  of  John  Ta}  lor,  who  put  an  end  to 
his  life  on  the  first  of  this  month,  by  hanging  him- 
self in  prison  No.  5. 

By  the  position  in  which  he  was  found  in  the 
morning,  he  must  have  been  all  intent  on  death  \ 
he  had  fastened  himself  to  one  of  the  stantions,  so 
that  his  toes  could  just  touch  the  floor.  We  knew 
of  no  other  cause  than  that  despair  had  given  him 
less  courage  to  live  than  to»die. 

Thinking  it  might  tend  to  deter  others  from  fol- 
lowing the  example  of  this  unhappy  victim  of  des- 
pair, I  procured  a  large  slate,  and  engraved  on  it 
the  following  inscription,  which  1  put  at  the  head 
<^f  his  grave,  where  it  remains  on  the  moor. 
M2 


134 


Here  lies 
JOHN  TAYLOR, 

A  native  citizen  of  the  city  of  New  York;. 
Who  committed  suicide,  by  hanging  him- 
self in  prison  No.  5,  on  the  evening 
of  the  first  of  December,  1814. 

I  then  put  over  each  prison  as  a  caveat^  the  fol- 
lowing memento,  as  it  was  feared  others  would  do 
the  same  act. 

Whene'er  you  view  this  doleful  tomb, 

Remember  what  you  are. 

And  put  your  trust  in  God  alone  : 

Suppress  that  fiend,  Despair. 

Lo  !  there's  entomb'd  a  generous  youth. 
Despair  did  doom  to  die  ; 
By  the  hard  act  of  suicide, 
John  Taylor  therfe  doth  lie. 

He  hung  himself  within  yon  walls, 
A  warning  may  it  prove : 
Tho'  man  is  wicked  here  below, 
There's  a  just  God  above. 

j^c  patient,  meek,  and  wait  His  call,^ 
Endure  these  ills  of  strife  : 
For  great's  the  sin  of  mortal  man. 
That  takes  away  his  life». 


135 

One  knows  not  how  to  account  for  the  origin  of 
that  act  which  takes  away  one's  own  hfe  :  self-love 
and  self-preservation  are  so  deeply  rooted  in  the 
very  nature  of  all  living  creatures,  that  it  is  the  ulti- 
mate mo'ive  of  all  actions  to  endeavour  to  sustain 
and  preserve  life  ;  fear  of  destroying  it  is  so  in- 
stinctive iii  all  animals,  that  tliey  seem  to  flee  from 
danger  without  any  reasonmg  in  the  act,  and  al- 
most without  knowing  when  the  volition  begins. 

But  the  suicide  reverses  every  thing ;  he  does  an 
act  which  is  not  natural,  not  rational,  not  desirable? 
and  dangerous  ;  he  rushes  into  the  presence  of  his 
God,  w  ith  all  his  former  crimes,  and  this  most  he- 
nious  of  ail,  brings  him  there. 

From  the  first  to  the  twenty-sixth  nothing  mate- 
rial occurred,  but  a  constant  fall  of  snow  every  day, 
but  the  season  was  less  severe  than  that  of  the  year 
before. 

la  the  interim,  prisoners  arrived  from  ditTereat 
quarters  of  the  globe ;  some  taken  in  Canada  on 
tlie  lakes,  and  others  on  the  land  :  and  amongst 
these  arrivals  was  the  crew  of  the  privateer  Leo, 
captured  off  the  coast  of  Portugal. 

On  the  twenty-ninth,  we  were  most  agreea- 
bly surprised  with  the  joyful  tidings  of  peace  ! — 
Tne  preliminaries  were  announced  in  the  London 
paper  which  we  received  this  day,  and  the  news 
was  confirmed  l^y  a  letter  from  Mr.  Beasley,  re- 


136 

jeived  the  same  day  ;  stating  that  the  treaty  had 
been  signed  by  tlie  commis-sioaers  at  Giient  on  the 
24th,  and  that  the  sloop  of  war  Favourite'  would 
sail  with  the  Treaty  on  the  second  of  January,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifteen,  with  all  possi- 
ble speed  for  the  United  States,  and  that  three 
months  would  release  every  man  from  confinement. 

Language  is  too  feeble  to  describe  the  trans- 
ports of  joy,  that  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly 
filled  every  heart.  Every  man  forgot  the  many 
tedious  days  and  nights  he  had  so  often  numbered 
over  within  these  prison  walls.  The  memory  of 
his  better  days  rose  fresh  in  his  mind,  and  he  once 
more  hoped  to  return  to  his  native  countiy,  which 
he  had  so  long  despaired  of  ever  revisiting  ^  his 
liberty,  the  embraces  of  his  friends,  he  knew  bet- 
ter how  to  prize  by  being  so  long  deprived  o^ 
them.  Tiie  delicious  fruits  of  plenty  he  could  by 
his  imagination  taste. 

The  prison  was  now  in  great  confusion  and  bus- 
tle, in  preparing  to  celebrate  the  peace,  which  w^e 
were  confident  wotild  be  honourable  to  our  coun- 
try. We  were  confident  that  the  ground- w^ork  of 
the  treaty  must  be  free  trade  and  sailors'  rights  ; 
and  made  arrangements  to  celebrate  it  in  a  man- 
ner conformable  to  the  rights  of  the  ocean. 

We  obtained  a  quantity  of  powder  of  the  sol- 
diers, unkiiown  to   uie  keepeis,  and  made  large 


137 

cartridges,  wound  them  up  in  twine,  so  that  when 
exploded  would  make  a  report  as  loud  as  a  six 
r)ounder ;  we  then  procured  a  large  ensign,  and  a 
pendant  for  each  prison  ;  we  prepared  a  white  (lag 
in  the  centre,  painted  in  large  capitals,  "  Free 
Trade  and  Sailors'   Rights." 

The  next  morning,  to  the  astonishment  of  the 
officers  and  guards,  we  displayed  the  flags  on  the 
top  of  each  prison  ;  and  on  No.  3,  which  was  styled 
the  Commodore,  displayed  the  white  flag  with  the 
above  motto,  and  at  the  same  time  fired  a  salute  of 
seventeen  rounds. 

Shortly  after,  Capt.  Shortland  entered  the  yard, 
and  politely  requested  the  white  flag  containing 
the  motto  to  be  taken  down,  as  it  would  draw  cen- 
sure upon  him  from  the  government,  by  holding 
out  inducements  for  the  sailors  to  mutinise ;  he  said, 
the  government  of  Great  Britain  took  care  to 
suppress  all  such  inflammatory  mottos.  But  the 
prisoners  were  too  full  of  spirits  to  comply  with 
the  request  at  that  time.  They  continued  it  till 
towards  evening,  when  he  again  entered  and  so- 
licited us  to  take  it  down,  or  every  thing  would 
])e  in  confusion  ;  he  said,  if  we  would  take  the 
motto-flag  down,  he  -would  hoist  an  American  en- 
sigii  on  one  end  of  his  own  house,  and  a  British 
one  on  the  other  end  ;  and  if  we  were  not  con- 
tented with  this,  he  would  order  them  all  down  \ 


I3B 


»ve  then  lokl  him,  out  of  respect  for  hini,  wc  would 
take  them  all  dovvn,  and  wait  till  the  ratiftcation 
of  peace,  before  v.'c  displayed  them  again. 

On  the  thirty-first  of  this  month,  arrived  a  draft 
of  prisoners,  among  whom  were  many  Avho  had 
^iven  themselves  up  as  American  citizens,  and 
claimed  their  right  to  a  citizenship,  and  refused 
to  act  on  board  his  Majesty's  ships  any  longer  j 
these  the  prisoners  did  not  give  a  very  welcome 
reception ;  for  they  had  delayed  till  the  act  had 
become  a  wilful  aiding  and  assisting  the  enemy, 
and  the  mischief  now  over.  The  constant  cry 
among  the  sailors,  ivho  are  great  friends  to  Uncle 
Sam,  was.  Damn  my  eyes  if  he  han't  stood  it  like 
a  man. 

Among  those  prisoners  who  bad  declared  them- 
selves citizens  of  the  United  States,  were  six  w^ho 
had  been  in  the  enemy's  service  for  many  years, 
and  wer^  on  board  his  Majesty's  ship  Pelican, 
when  she  engaged  the  United  States'  brig  Argus, 
and  took  a  very  active  part  in  the  action  against 
the  Argus  ;  every  man  of  tliem  had  been  appoint- 
ed to  some  petty  office  on  board  the  Pelican. 
But  supposing  a  peace  would  shoHly  be  concluded 
between  the  two  nations,  they  had  thought  best  to 
cliim  a  citizenship,  and  obtain  their  release.  This 
information  soon  'spread  amone:  all  the  prisoner?. 


139 

and  enraged  them  to  the  highest  degree  at  then 
conduct,  and  being  flushed  with  high  spirits  with 
the  late  news  of  peace,  were  about  to  proceed  to 
©xtreinities  with  them,  and  they  finding  their  hves 
were  in  danger,  applied  to  Capt.  Shortland  for 
protection,  who  entered  the  prison  yard  with  the 
guards  and  took  these  traitorous  villains  along, 
and  we  believe  they  went  back  into  his  Majesty's 
service  ;  as  the  next  day  they  were  conveyed  to 
Plymouth,  and  we  heard  no  more  of  them. 

The  weather  was  now  very  severe,  and  the  old- 
est prisoners  had  not  received  any  clothing  sincf 
May,  and  were  much  in  need  of  jackets  and  trow- 
isers  ;  of  this  fact  the  prisoners  were  a  self  evident 
and  naked  truth.     Many  were  sick  in  the  hospital, 

December  thirty-first,  1814.  Statement  of  pris- 
oners in  prison  at  this  depot. 

Prisoners  delivered  up  from  the  British 
navy. 197  8. 

United  States'  and  privateers'  incn,  those  taken 
in  merchant  vessels.  3348. 

Total,  exclusive  of  those   exchanged     -     5326. 

Mr.  Beasley,  agent,  had  visited  them  once. 
They  had  recewed  from  him  one  jacket,  one  pair 
of  trowsers,  tvv'o  shirts,  two  pair  of  shoes,  and  two 
pair  of  stockings,  each  man. 

Received  from  the  British  government,  one 
hammock,   one   blanket,  one  horse  rug,  one  bed, 


140 

one  yellow  jacket,  one  pair  of  trowsers,  one  waist- 
coat, one  pair  of  wooden  shoes,  and  one  cap. 

Received  in  cash  one  and  a  halfpence,  to  which 
was  added  one  penny  more  after  two  months,  each 
man  per  day,  from  the  tirst  of  January,  1814. 

The  weather  still  continued  cold,  and  the  oldest 
prisoners  had  not  as  yet  received  any  shoes  or 
clothes,  but  were  daily  expecting  them  from  Mr. 
Beasley. 

We  had  been  in  this  cold  and  dreary  mansion^ 
wenty-one  months,  and  the  above  items  were  all 
the  assistance  we  had  received  from  Beasley,  the 
only  person  in  this  foreign  land  of  our  enemies  to 
whom  we  could  look  for  any  assistance,  or  from 
whom  we  had  any  right  to  expect  it. 

Our  ears  had  been  constantly  assailed  with  the 
groans  of  the  sick,  and  the  dying  ;  pestilence  and 
disease  had  been  our  constant  companions  ;  our 
minds  had  become  almost  distracted  betwixt  the 
grief  of  our  departed  friends,  and  fellow  prisoners, 
and  the  hunger  and  want  of  our  own  body.  From 
such  a  long  series  of  incessant  sufferings,  it  is  na- 
tural to  suppose  that  the  bodies  were  emaciated, 
and  the  mind  debilitated ;  and  much  of  the  sam.eness 
that  may  appear  in  this  narrative,  is  owing  to  a 
uniform  ?tate  of  misery,  which  will  not  admit  of  a 
variety  in  the  description. 


141 

Capt.  .Shortland  had  got  information  on  the  se- 
cond of  November,  1815,  that  the  prisoners  had 
counterfeited  three  shilling  pieces,  and  passed 
them  to  the  market  people,  for  their  country  pro- 
duce, and  shortly  after  he  detected  two  men  at- 
tempting to  pass  bad  money  ;  he  had  them  ap- 
prehended immediately,  and  sent  to  the  cachot. 
Nothing  worthy  of  note  occurred  till  the  twen- 
tieth, when  two  men  lately  arrived  were  discove- 
red to  be  the  same  wdio  had  entered  the  Britisi) 
service  the  winter  before.  After  having  received 
many  insults,  and  much  hard  usage,  on  board  the 
war  shij)s,  they  had  got  tired  of  their  situations, 
and  claimed  their  citizenship  and  got  themselves 
delivered  up  and  sent  to  prison  again,  which  the\ 
considered  the  least  of  the  two  evils. 

Their  conduct  on  ])oard  the  ships,  was  no  doubt 
as  disgi*aceful  as  the  act  they  committed  to  bring 
them  there  ;  they  shifted  from  ship  to  ship,  till 
the  one  wherein  they  claimed  their  citizenship 
was  ignorant  of  the  manner  they  had  come  into 
the  service.  The  prisoners  being  highly  enraged 
at  such  conduct,  made  strict  inquiry  into  the  mat- 
ter, and  found  the  facts  as  above  m.entioned. — 
After  holding  consultations,  many  were  for  putting 
them  to  immediate  death,  others  were  for  flogging 
them  as  severely  as  they  could  bear,  and  every 
man  for  giving  tlicm  some  condign  punishment ; 
N 


142 

but  at  last  it  was  unanimously  concluded  to  put 
upon  tliem  a  mark,  which  would  be  a  lasting  stig- 
ma, and  an  example  for  others.  They  seized  and 
took  the  traitors  into  prison,  and  fastened  them  to 
a  table,  so  that  they  could  not  resist,  and  then, 
with  needles  and  India  ink,  pricl^d  U.  S.,  on  one 
cheek,  and  T.  on  the  other ;  which  is  United 
States  traitor.  After  we  let  them  go,  they  were 
taken  immediately  to  the  hospital,  and  their  faces 
blistered  on  both  sides,  to  endeavour  to  extract 
the  ink,  but  this  only  made  it  brighter  and  sink 
deeper  in.  The  doctors  reported  the  traitors  to 
be  in  a  very  dangerous  state,  and  that  their  lives 
were  despaired  of.  If  this  had  been  the  case,  it 
must  only  proceed  from  the  application  they  had 
made  use  of,  for  no  harm  could  arise  from  mark- 
ing. 

The  next  day,  Capt.  Shortland  being  offended 
at  the  treatment  his  friends  had  received,  sent 
and  had  three  men  taken,  v.hom  he  suspected 
were  concerned  in  the  affair,  and  put  them  into 
the  cachot,  where  they  were  examined  not  long 
after  by  the  King's  solicitor,  and  there  ordered  to 
remain  till  the  next  Exeter  assizes,  then  and  there 
1,0  be  tried  by  tlfo  laws  of  this  country.  On  the 
ivventy-fifth  arrived  five  hundred  suits  of  clothes, 
which  were  distributed  among  those  who  had  last 
arrived. 


143 

The  weather  being  very  severe,  and  great 
quantities  of  snov*'  falling,  the  men  v.ere  obliged 
to  keep  \vithin  doors.  On  the  same  day  arrived  a 
regiment  of  regular  troops,  who  themselves  had 
})een  prisoners  in  France  for  many  years  during 
the  late  war  between  that  nation  and  England. — 
They  were  much  disgusted  with  the  freatment  we 
received  here,  and  cjxlaimed  against  the  authors 
of  it,  whoever  they  might  be,  and  declared  they 
had  not  received  such  treatment  in  France. 

At  this  time,  the  government  not  being  so  strict 
in  their  charge  to  the  mihtury,  and  the  keepers 
not  so  strict  in  putting  them  in  execution,  and 
these  new  guards  being  very  friendly,  gave  us  a 
fine  opportunity  to  escape  over  the  walls,  and  many 
made  their  escape  in  dark  stormy  nights.  This 
continued  for  some  time,  till  one  man  was  taken 
on  the  wall,  in  the  very  act ;  then  it  was  stopped, 
and  strict  orders  given. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  a  draft  of  jirisoners  arri- 
ved, among  whom  were  the  crew  of  the  privateer 
Neuf- Chattel  of  New- York,  lately  captured,  and 
two  navy  officers  captured  on  the  lakes.  On  the 
tw^enty-eighth  these  officers  received  their  parole, 
and  proceeded  on  to  Ashburton,  where  all  the  pa. 
roled  oilicers  verc  stationed. 


144 


Nantucket  Neutrality, 

On  the  thirtieth,  Sir  Isaac  Coffin  arrived  with 
another  British  admiral ;  Sir  Isaac  is  a. native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  feehng  some  partiality  to  his 
native  statesmen,  requested  Capt.  Shortland  to 
permit  all  the  men  who  belonged  to  Nantucket  to 
come  alone  into  m.arket  square,  which  request  was 
of  course  granted.  He  himself  and  the  other  ad- 
miral, whose  name  we  did  not  learn,  held  a  long 
conversation  with  the  Nantucket  men,  and  in- 
quired the  particulars  of  their  birth,  their  friends 
and  places  of  residence  ;  they  then  told  them, 
should  the  war  continue,  they  ■v\ould  be  released, 
on  account  of  belonging  to  a  neutral  Country. — 
They  then  took  an  affectionate  leave  of  the  citi- 
zens of  that  neutral  nation,  and  went  away.  Such 
are  the  advantages  derived  from  being  a  neutral 
nation  in  time  of  w^ar. 

February  commences  w  ith  much  snow  and  cold  ; 
the  prisoners  in  great  anxiety  for  the  ratification 
of  the  treaty. 

On  the  fourth  arrived  a  draft  of  prisoners,  late- 
ly captured  in  the  privateer  Brutus.  At  this  time 
a  new,  and  most  dreadful  calamity  now  alarmed 
and  endangered  the  life  of  every  man ;  the  African 
pox  had,  by  some  unfortunate  means,  got  among 
the  prisoners,  and  threatened  destruction  to  every 
living  soul.     The  disorder  was  so  violent   that 


145 


when  it  attacked  a  person,  he  had  nothing  to  ex- 
pect but  immediate  death  ;  numbers  died  daily. 

On  the  fifth,  the  London  papers  mentioned  two 
American  frigates  cruising  in  the  channel,  which 
excited  great  alarm. 

On  the  sixth,  the  pestilence  had  grown  so  mor- 
tal, diat  the  chief  surgeon  in  England  visited  the 
pi'ison  ;  he  imagined  the  distemper  to  arise  from 
a  want  of  pure  air  ;  that  so  many  people  crowded 
together  in  one  building  must  render  the  air  very 
impure,  and  unfit  for  respiration.  He  tried  the 
difference  of  temperature  of  the  air  in  the  prison, 
and  outside,  which  he  found  to  differ  twenty-five 
degrees  by  Fahrenheit's  thermometer,  the  air  being 
much  warmer  inside.  This  difference  of  heat  arose 
entirely  from  the  heat  of  the  human  body,  as  no  fire 
was  kept  in  the  prisons  ;  each  prison  now  contain- 
ed about  1200  persons  on  an  average.  It  is  high- 
ly probable  the  distemper  had  generated  itself  in 
the  bad  state  of  air,  and  had  not  been  introduced 
from  abroad,  as  was  first  supposed. 

On  the  eighth  arrived  an  order  from  the 
Board  of  Transport,  for  Capt.  Shortland  to  ascer- 
tain the  number  and  description  of  all  prisoners 
belonging  to  the  Island  of  Nantucket,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  giving  them  their  discharge ;  like  the 
citizens  of  Denmark  and  Sweden,  they  were  neu- 
tral. 

N   2 


146 


On  the  tentli,  arrived  a  draft  of  prisoners,  lately 
captured  on  their  voyage  to  France  :  on  the  same 
day,  a  number  of  prisoners  were  called  on,  to  give 
evidence  on  the  part  of  the  crown,  concerning  the 
marking  of  the  traitors  in  the  cheek. 

The  king's  solicitor  was  a  long  while  busy  in 
endeavouring  to  obtain  information,  but  all  the 
satisfaction  he  got  was,  that  they  had  heard  by  re- 
port that  the  men  that  marked  the  traitors,  were 
to  be  tried  at  Exeter  the  next  assizes.  At  the 
same  time  a  small  quantity  of  clothing  arrived 
from  Mr.  Beasley,  who  it  seemed  always  took  care 
to  send  clothing  to  those  who  last  arrived,  as  in 
this  instance,  although  they  had  not  been  prisoners 
but  a  few  wrecks  ;  he  seemed  to  have  an  idea  that 
they  always  come  into  prison  naked,  and  when 
they  were  there,  one  suit  would  last  them  all  their 
life  ;  for  the  oldest  prisoners  had  not  received  any 
clothing  since  the  last  May,  and  it  was  now  ten 
months,  and  every  garment  entirely  worn  out.  He 
supposed,  that  during  two  years  imprisonment, 
such  as  we  had  had,  we  must  have  got  used  to 
every  species  of  hardship,  and  that  going  naked 
was  so  slight  an  evil  that  we  did  not  mind  it  at  all. 
During  the  interval  of  time  since  the  peace, 
another  slight  evil,  somewhat  similar  to  the  above, 
had  befallen  us,  for  the  Contractor  seeing  we  were 
shortly  to  go  to  a  land  of  plenty,  was  determined 


147 

to  show  us  the  difference  in  a  man's  feelings,  be- 
tween eating  and  going  without ;  so  he  gave  us  no 
more  than  the  simpleton  gave  his  horse,  while  he 
was  learnine:  him  to  live  without  eating;. 

On  the  thirteenth,  one  of  the  four  prisoner?, 
whom  we  mentioned  before  were  sentenced  last 
August  to  remain  in  the  cachot  during  the  war- 
watched  an  opportunity  to  get  among  the  other 
prisoners  in  the  yard  :  being  let  into  tlie  yard  of 
that  building  for  the  benefit  of  the  fresh  air,  and 
seeing  the  attention  of  the  turnkeys  and  soldiers 
occupied  by  some  other  object,  at  this  time  jumped 
over  the  iron  railing  that  separated  this  building 
from  the  yards  of  No.  1,  2  and  3,  and  got  undis- 
covered amongst  the  other  prisoners  ;  the  morning 
following  he  was  missed  by  the  keepers,  and  in- 
formation given  to  Capt.  Shortland,  who  demand- 
ed the  man  from  among  us  immediately,  that  he 
be  returned  to  the  cachot  again. 

The  prisoners  positively  refused  to  give  the  man 
up,  and  declared  that  no  force  of  arms  should 
wrest  him  from  their  protection.  He  then  ordered 
the  market  closed,  and  would  not  allow  any  com- 
munication with  it,  and  refused  the  prisoners  every 
privilege,  and  gave  them  only  their  allowance. 

On  the  fourteenth,  he  entered  the  yard  at  the 
head  of  two  hundred  soldiers  with  fixed  bayonets, 
and  ordered  every  prisoner  to   retire  within  the 


h 


148 

prisons,  that  search  might  be  made  for  the  prise- 
nei-,  and  he  again  remanded  to  the  cachot :  but  all 
the  prisoners  having  previously  agreed  to  stand 
by  each  other,  and  if  they  attempted  to  use  any 
violence,  to  surround  and  disarm  them,  a  signal 
was  given  to  surround,  and  the  soldiers  were  im- 
mediately surrounded,  and  the  intention  made 
known  to  the  officers,  and  advised  to  retire,  unless 
they  v/ere  determined  to  risk  the  consequence. — 
They  then  very  prudently  ordered  the  soldiers  to 
fall  back,  and  retire  without  the  yard,  and  leave 
the  man  whom  they  sought. 

The  captain  still  harbouring  rancour  in  his 
breast,  thought  to  compel  us  to  give  up  the  man 
by  force  of  starvation,  and  kept  the  markets  closed 
against  us,  and  compelled  us  to  subsist  solely  on 
our  scant  allowance  :  but  we  to  retaliate,  forbid 
all  prisoners  going  out  of  the  yard  to  work,  who 
at  this  time  were  about  forty  or  fifty  carpenters, 
masons,  and  other  mechanicks,  who  were  a  great 
profit  to  the  government  ;  this  step  put  Shortland 
to  great  expense  and  inconvenience  to  procure 
others. 

He  at  last  concluded  to  make  peace,  and  restore 
tranquillity  and  let  the  man  remain,  and  on  the 
twentieth  he  again  opened  the  markets  to  the  priso- 
ners, and  we  permitted  the  workmen  to  go  out 
and  work  again.  The  other  three  men  remained  in 


149 

the  cachot,  but  a  stronger  guard  was  placed  there, 
otherwise  we  were  determined  to  release  them  by 
force. 

On  the  twenty-second,  arrived  a  draft  of  priso- 
ners lately  Captured  off  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
Limong  whom  were  the  crew  of  the  late  United 
States  brig  Syren  ;  the  treatment  of  these  men  be- 
fore they  arrived  at  this  place  will  be  mentioned 
in  the  supplements  to  this  work.  These,  together 
with  others  taken  in  other  parts,  arrived  since  the 
last  enumeration  on  the  last  day  of  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  fourteen,  made  in  all  at  this  de- 
pot five  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty,  which 
were  all  the  prisoners  in  England  except  officers 
on  parole.  The  prisoners  v/cre  barefooted,  and 
very  sickly. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  this  month,  is  gazetted 
in  the  London  papers,  the  official  account  of  the 
capture  of  the  United  States  frigate  President, 
Com.  Decatur. 

The  editor  says  she  was  captured  solely  by  the 
Endymion,  of  far  inferior  force  ;  he  says  the  en- 
gagement was  in  the  old  English  style,  yard-arm  to 
yard-arm.  Knowing  this  to  be  a  falsehood,  I 
addressed  a  letter  to  the  editor,  requesting  him  to 
road  a  short  piece  of  poetry  which  I  enclosed. 

March  commenced  with  cold  and  blustering  wea» 
thcr,  and  the  prisons  almost  one  continued  scene 


150 


^ 


of  sick  and  dying,  the  t>iiialI-pox  was  raging  with  a 
desolating  aspect,  and  the  grcat,cst  anxiety  con- 
cerning the  ratification  of  the  treaty  ;  afflictions, 
which  seem  never  to  come  singly,  were  now  pres- 
sing upon  the  ba<:k  of  one  another  ;  pestilence, 
famine,  and  nakedness  Avcre  not  ailliction  enough, 
phrensy  must  be  added. 

On  the  fourth,  a  man  in  the  Hospital,  in  a  sud- 
den fit  of  insanity,  seized  a  knife  and  stabbed  two 
of  the  nurses  very  dangerously,  of  which  wounds 
Jonathan  Paul  died  on  the  tenth,  the  other  sur- 
vived. 

On  inquiiy  into  the  circumstances  of  the  de- 
ceased, we  found  him  to  have  been  a  married  man, 
and  his  wife  had  lived  a  little  distance  from  the 
prison,  since  his  confinement,  who  was  in  ver^'- 
narrow  circumstances. 

We  all  agreed  to  give  her  the  day's  allowance  of 
fish  of  that  week,  which  we  sold  to  the  contractor 
and  received  the  money,  which  amounted  to  nearly 
"one  hundred  dollars  5  this  sum  she  received,  and 
returned  to  her  residence  on  the  day  of  the  death 
of  her  husband. 

On  this  day  also,  the  three  men  who  were  put 
into  close  confinement,  for  marking  the  traitors  on 
the  face,  w^ere  taken  out  of  the  custody  of  the 
agent  of  prisoners  of  war  at  this  place,  by  a  writ  of 
Habeas  Corpus  ad  respodendum^   and  removed  tr. 


151 

the  criminal  prison  at  Exeter,  to  be  tried  for  the 
oilence  by  tiie  civil  laws  of  this  country.  They 
were  removed  in  irons.  The  prisoners  then  made 
a  contribution  for  the  support  of  these  men  while 
at  Exeter. 

On  the  tenth,  we  received  London  papers, 
which  gave  an  account  of  Bonaparte's  having  ar- 
rived in  F^-ance  at  the  head  of  about  one  thousand 
men,  and  that  he  was  making  the  most  rapid  ad- 
vances toward  Paris,  and  thousands  joining  him, 
ihat  the  greatest  confusion  was  taking  place  in 
ilie  affairs  of  France. 

This  uitelligcncc  struck  the  greatest  astonish- 
.:cnt  in  all  England,  and  created  a  very  serious 
(jncern  among  all  the  military.  Avho  expected  to 
br^  relieved  on  the  arrival  of  tlic  treaty  ratified  by 
the  President,  but  now  they  must  despair  of  that 
idea,  as  new  wars  must  inevitably  follow  the  htcps 
of  that  gigantick  monster. 

On  the  fourteenth,  a  universal  joy  was  diffused 

hrough  the  whole  prison,  and  "  a  smile  lighted  up 

in  the  aspect  of  woe  ;"  the  Favourite,  the  welcome 

messenger  of  j^eace,  arrived  and  brought  the  treaty 

ratiiled  by  the  President  of  the  linited  States. 

I  cannot  better  express  the  joy  that  diffused  it- 
self through  the  whole  country,  Englishmen  as 
well  as  prisoners,  than  by  giving  the  followincr 
lines  from  a  great  author. 


152 

The  dumb  shall  sing,  the  lame  his  crutch  forego, 
And  leap  exuliing  like  the  bounding  roe. 
No  sigh  nor  murmur  the  wide  world  shall  hear, 
From  ev'ry  face  he  wipes  off  ev'ry  tear. 

We  raised  the  ensigns  and  pendant  on  each 
prison,  presented  to  Capt.  Shortland  and  gentle- 
men under  his  command,  an  address  in  poetry. 

On  the  seventeenth,  we  were  informed  by  Capt, 
Shortland,  that  he  had  received  orders  from  the 
Board  of  Transport  to  discharge  the  prisoners 
whenever  Mr.  Beasley  was  ready  to  receive  them. 
To  the  great  disappointment  of  all  the  prisoners, 
we  had  received  no  information  from  Mr.  Beasley 
for  six  weeks,  and  the  prisoners  now  were  in  the 
greatest  anxiety.  They  reasonably  expected  that 
on  the  arrival  of  this  ratified  treaty,  Mr.  Beasley 
would  have  every  thing  in  a  state  of  readiness, 
for  their  immediate  conveyance  to  the  United 
States,  and  that  he  v/ould  inform  them  in  what 
manner  they  were  to  proceed  there  ;  but  not  a 
syllable  was  received  from  the  agent  of  our  coun- 
try till  the  eighteenth,  v/hen  a  very  cold  and  un- 
pleasant letter  was|received  from  him,  which  read 
as  follows: 

"  Fellow  Citizens, 

T  am  informed  that  great  numbers  of  the  pri- 
soners refuse    being  inoculated    with   the   smill 


^53 

pox,  which  T  hear  has  been  very  mortal  amoftg 
you.  I  therefore  acquaint  you,  that  it  w-ill  be  im- 
possible for  me  to  send  home  any  prisoners,  unless 
they  have  gone  through  the  same.     Yours,  &c. 

R.  G.  BEASLEY." 

This  strange  letter  rather  increased  the  great 
anxiety  every  man  was  in,  for  wc  expected  to  have 
been  informed  something  relative  to  our  speedy 
departure,  and  that  he  had  made  arrangements 
to  clothe  the  oldest  prisoners,  who  were  so  na- 
ked, that  they  were  unlit  to  be  discharged. 

On  the  nineteenth,  an  order  arrived,  informing 
Capt.  Shortland  to  discharge  thirty  men,  as  they 
had  been  aj^plied  for  by  American  captains,  to 
man  ships  in  France,  and  up  the  east  country  ;  the 
Transport  Board  had  ordered  them  to  be  dischar- 
ged. 

On  the  twentieth,  Capt.  Shoitland  released 
diose  three  men,  whom  we  have  mentioned  were 
committed  to  close  confinement  in  the  cachot  last 
August,  on  susj.icion  of  blowing  up  the  vessel ; 
the  other  we  have  mentioned  made  his  escape. 

These  men  made  as  ghastly  an  appearance,  as 
it  is  possible  for  human  beings  to  make  ;  they  had 
been  eight  months  confined  within  a  damp  stone 
room  twenty  feet  square,  floored  with  stone,  and  no 
li^ht  except  a  dim  ray  that  gleamed  through  the 
top  of  the  gable  end.  They  had  lived  on  two 
O 


154 

thirds  of  a  scant  allowance,  till  their  trembling 
limbs  could  scarce  support  their  body. 

On  the  same  day,  a  writ  came  to  remove  the 
insane  man,  who  had  occasioned  the  death  of 
Jonathan  Paul,  to  Exeter,  to  have  his  trial ;  also 
one  to  bring  forward  about  twenty  persons  as 
witnesses,  in  this,  and  the  trial  of  the  three  men 
whom  we  mentioned  had  been  taken  there  for 
trial,  for  marking  the  traitors. 

The  small  pox  raged  now  in  a  most  alarming 
inanner ;  it  being  of  the  African  kind,  scarce  a 
man  recovered,  after  once  being  attacked  and  con- 
veyed to  the  hospital. 

After  the  arrival  of  the  ratification  of  the  trea- 
ty, great  numbers  visited  the  prison  from  all  parts 
of  the  country,  with  almost  every  kind  of  article 
for  sale  in  the  markets  ;  among  whom  were  great 
numbers  of  Jews,  who  came  here  to  sell  old 
clothes. 

One  of  these  Jew  merchants  on  his  way  to  the 
prison,  met  a  farmer  who  lived  about  eight  miles 
fonir  the  prison,  and  accused  him  of  being  an 
American  prisoner,  making  his  escape  from  the 
depot ;  as  great  numbers  had  lately  made  their 
escape,  and  thinking  to  receive  the  reward,  which 
was  three  pounds,  given  by  the  government  for 
apprehending  any  prisoner  making  his  escape  frcm 
prison  \  told  the  farmer  he  must  go  back  to  the  pri- 


155  • 

son  with  him,  and  the  farmer,  having  been  onee  -a 
sailor,  was  willing  to  confirm  him  in  his  suspicions, 
and  began  the  song  of  Yankee  Doodle  ;  this  con- 
firmed the  Jew  in  his  belief  c^f  his  being  an  Ameri- 
can, and  he  was  sure  he  had  got  a  prize  worth 
three  pounds  to  him ;  but  his  prisoner  re- 
fused to  walk,  and  thinking  he  could  afford  to 
hire  a  conveyance  for  him,  gave  half  a  guinea  to  a 
wagoner  to  take  him  to  the  prison,  and  treated 
him  very  liberally  along  the  way  with  drink. — 
About  11  o'clock  the  Jew  arrived  with  his  prison- 
er, and  applied  to  the  keepers  to  take  charge 
of  him,  and  pay  the  reward  of  three  pounds  ;  but 
to  his  astonishment,  the  clerks,  turnkeys,  and 
every  officer,  immediately  knew  the  farmer,  and 
knew  him  to  be  a  respectable  man  residing  on  the 
edge  of  the  moor.  He  now  demanded  of  the  Jew 
a  compensation  for  being  detained  several  hours  a 
prisoner,  and  the  demand  being  justified  by  Capt. 
Shortland,  the  Jew  was  obliged  to  pay  fire  pounds 
to  prevent  a  suit. 

The  affair  was  made  known  to  the  prisoners, 
and  every  man  forbid  purchasing  any  thing  of  the 
Jew  ;  he  was  therefore  obliged  to  leave  the  mar- 
ket without  disposing  of  a  single  article. 

On  the  twenty- fourth,  a  letter  was  received 
from  Mr.  Beasley,  informing  those  Americans  who 
Had  been  taken  under  the  French  flag,  and  had 


156 

been  considered  as  French  prisoners  till  they 
were  discharged,  and  from  that  time  till  this,  had 
been  recognised  by  no  government,  that  he  was 
now  authorized  to  acknowledge  them  as  Ameri- 
cans, and  sent  to  each  man  a  suit  of  clothes. — 
This  was  the  first  assistance  these  men  had  had 
from  any  government,  since  the  French  prisoners 
were  discharged,  and  had  lived  entirely  on  the 
charity  of  the"  other  prisoners.  They  had  been 
prisoners  four  or  five  years. 

The  same  letter  informed  us  that  he  had  taken 
three  ships  at  London  for  the  conveyance  of  the 
prisoners  to  the  U.  States. 

The  same  day,  a  passport  for  four  prisoners-, 
who  w^ere  to  be  discharged,  was  received. 

During  this  month  many  prisoners  made  their 
escape,  the  government  appearing  very  careless  ; 
and  it  was  supposed  this  negligence  was  intention- 
al, that  they  might  escape  for  the  purpose  of  im- 
pressing, as  the  press  was  hot  about  this  time  j 
but  some  fev,^  v/ere  detected  when  passing'  the 
wall,  and  sentenced  to  the  cachot  for  ten  days,  on 
two  thirds  allowance,  which^  stopped  the  esca- 
ping for  that  time. 

On  the  tw^enty-fifth,  the  prisoners  began  to  be 
impatient  of  such  delay  in  the  American  agent, 
as  eleven  days  had  elapsed  since  the  arrival  of 
the  ratified  treaty,  and  nothing  in  readiness  to  dis- 


157» 

cliarge  them,  no  means  provided,  and  such  delay 
too  much  to  be  borne  ;  their  situation  was  such, 
that  they  could  not  restrain  their  resentment 
against  such  criminal  neglect-  as  their  agent  was 
guilty  of;  they  were  determined  to  punish  him  as 
much  as  it  lay  in  their  power  ;  they  therefore  caus- 
ed his  effigy  to  be  hanged  on  the  top  of  one  of  the 
prisons,  after  which  it  was  taken  down,  and  burnt 
in  presence  of  all  the  officers  and  soldiers. — 
But  I  must  not  forget  to  mention  the  sentence  of 
the  court,  pronounced  before  his  execution,  and 
his  dying  confession,  when  under  the  gallows. 
$Scnlence. 
At  this  trial,  held  at  Dartmoor  on  the  twenty- 
fifth  day  of  March,  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  fifteen,  you,  Reuben  G.  Beasley  in  effigy,  are 
found  guilty,  by  an  impartial  and  judicious  jury 
of  your  countrymen,  upon  the  testimony  of  five 
thousand  seven  hundred  witnesses,  of  depriving 
many  hundreds  of  your  countrymen  of  their  lives, 
by  the  most  wanton  and  most  ci'ucl  deaths,  by 
nakedness,  starvation,  and  exposure  to  pestilence. 
It  therefore  becomes  the  duty  of  this  court,  as 
ought  to  be  the  duty  of  every  court  of  justice,  to 
pronounce  that  sentence  of  the  law,  which  your 
manifold  and  henious  crimes  so  richly  deserve. — 
And  it  is  with  the  dee]')est  regret  that  1  am  com- 
pelled to  say,  our  country  has  been  imposed  upon, 
O  2 


by  a  man  whose  crimes  must  cut  him  off  from 
among  the  hving.  You  this  day  must  be  hanged 
by  the  neck  on  the  top  of  the  prison  No.  7,  until 
you  are  dead ;  your  body  is  then  to  be  taken  down 
and  fastened  to  a  stake,  and  burned  to  ashes,  which 
are  to  be  distributed  to  the  v/inds,  that  your  name 
may  be  forgotten,  and  your  crimes  no  longer  dis- 
grace our  nation. 

On  hearing  the  above  sentence,  the  compunc- 
tion of  his  conscience  now  brought  forth  the  fol- 
lowing confession. 

CONFESSION. 
••  Injured  countrymen,  and  fellow  citizens, 

"  I  this  day,  by  the  verdict  of  a  just  and  impar- 
tial jury,  and  by  the  sentence  of  an  impartial  court, 
am  to  be  made  a  public  example,  and  receive  that 
punishment  which  is  so  justly  due  to  my  many 
odious  offences  against  the  laws  of  God,  and  my 
country ;  and  being  in  a  very  few  moments  to 
make  my  exit  from  this  world,  do  confess,  in  the 
presence  of  Almighty  God,  that  for  the  first 
twelve  months  of  my  consulship  I  did  most  criminal- 
ly neglect  the  American  prisoners,  who  were  dying 
daily  for  the  want  of  my  assistance,  which  I  with- 
held through  mercenary  motives  :  the  cries  and 
petitions  of  my  unfortunate  countrymen  I  have 
always  treated  with  the  utmost  disregard  and  con- 
tempt, but  being  fully  convinced   of  all  my  past 


159 

errors,  I  make  this  public  and  candid  confession, 
in  hopes  that  1  may  find  mercy  in  the  presence  of 
a  just  and  merciful  God.  I  further  do  acknow- 
ledge, that  I  have  been  the  means  of  detaining 
you  in  your  present  situation  by  neglecting  to  send 
you  home,  as  I  might  have  done,  while  the  ex- 
change was  open  for  prisoners,  which  was  npt 
closed  till  June  eighteen  hundred  and  thirteen  ;  I 
likewise  confess,  that  1  have  deprived  great  num- 
bers of  you  of  your  regular  turns  of  exchange,  by 
filling  the  cartels  with  paroled  officers,  who  were 
not  entided  to  the  same  ;  1  must  confess  that  had 
I  have  made  proper  application  to  the  British  go- 
vernment, and  had  I  used  my  influence,  I  might 
have  obtained  the  release  of  all  the  men  discharged 
from  his  majesty's  ships  of  war  ;  but  being  selfish, 
and  swayed  by  despicable  motives,  I  made  no  ex- 
ertions for  their  relief.  I  do  likewise  confess,  that 
after  the  second  year  of  my  consulship,  I  could  no 
longer  withhold  from  my  unfortunate  countrymen, 
some  little  assistance  in  money  and  clothing,  as 
the  United  States  had  given  me  positive  oiders  to 
supply  all  the  wants  of  her  citizens,  who  were  pri- 
soners of  war  at  that  time  in  England  ;  but  to  my 
shame,  and  to  the  disgrace  of  any  American  agent, 
I  entered  in  a  contract  with  a  Jew  merchant  of 
London,  to  supply  the  prisoners  with  the  very 
meanest  and  coarsest  clothing  that  could  possibly 


■,^v.-atfti 


160 

be  procured  in  all  England.  At  the  same  time  I 
made  advances  to  you,  prisoners,  of  two  and  a  half 
cents  per  day,  and  then  represented  to  your  coun- 
try, the  Congress  of  the  United  Stales,  that  I  had 
supplied  all  your  wants  by  providing  you  a  suffi- 
cient quantity  of  clothing,  and  making  you  a  daily 
advance  of  money  suitable  to  your  wants  jfo  r  I 
did  think  that  by  deceiving  the  United  States,  and 
depriving  you  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  I  should 
in  a  very  few  years  accumulate  to  myself  a  Ycry 
handsome  fortune  ;  but  to  my  great  disappoint- 
ment and  disgrace,  the  peace  took  place,  and  all 
my  villany  and  deception  was  discovered ;  my 
crimes  stood  in  open  day.  For  these  crimes  now 
I  am  justly  doomed  to  this  ignominious  death,  and 
must  very  shortly  make  my  appearance  before  the 
just,  and  Almighty  God,  to  answer  for  all  my 
crimes  ;  where  I  expect  there  will  rise  up  in  evi- 
dence against  me,  the  souls  of  hundreds  of  my  de- 
parted countrymen,  v/ho  now  lie  buried  behind  the 
walls  of  this  prison  by  my  crimes  ;  as  the  time  is 
now  expired,  I  must  depart  to  the  uncertainty  of 
an  hereafter."  The  hat  drops.  "  I  depart  among 
the  damned." 

After  the  ashes- was  scattered  in  the  winds,  the 
following  dirge  was  then  sung. 

The  image  of  disgrace  we've  hang'd. 

And  wish  it  was  cjuite  true 


161 

That  Beasley  had  himself  been  there, 

And  the  devil  burnt  his  Jew  : 

For  both  contriv'd  to  wrong  us  much  ; 

And  they  knew  it  very  well, 

They'll  always  have  the  prisoners'  prayer 

To  send  them  both  to  hell. 
On  the  twenty-sixth,  the  prisoners  who  had  bcea 
taken  to  Exeter  to  give  evidence  against  the  in- 
sane man  who  stabbed  Paul,  and  also  those  who 
were  to  give  evidence  against  the  three  men  who 
w^ere  accused  of  marking  the  traitors,  returned 
to  Dartmoor ;  as  did  also  the  defendants  who  had 
had  their  trial,  and  were  acquitted. 

On  the  twxnty-eighth,  we  received  our  monthly 
pay  as  usual  :  the  prison  continued  very  sickly, 
and  no  preparation  for  our  departure. 

At  this  time  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  gar- 
rison seemed  greatly  alarmed  and  much  concerned 
at  the  news  received  from  France.  Tiiey  had 
the  greatest  apprehensions  of  an  immediate  war 
with  Bonaparte,  as  the  Paris  papers  gave  an  ac- 
count of  his  being  at  the  head  of  three  hundred 
thousand  men  in  arms ;  and  the  British  papers 
mentioned  the  great  preparations  they  w^ere  ma- 
king  in  this  country  to  assist  the  allies.  The 
very  name  of  the  Emperor,  and  the  mention  of 
th?  battle  of  New-Orleans,  made  every  British 


162 


officer  and  soldier  turn  pale,  and  shudder  at  the 
thoUifht. 

On  the  last  day  of  March,  I  collected  the  exact 
number  of  all  prisoners  at  this  depot,  and  noted  as 
follows  •- 

In  prison   No.  1      ----.,-     -     1769. 

In     do.       No.  3 972. 

In     do.       No.  4 10.51. 

In     do.       No.  5 958. 

In     do.       No.  7 1263. 

In  different  employments  about  the  stores     3 1 . 

Employed  in  the  hospital         -         -         -    1 9. 

Patients  in  the  hospital  -         -  130. 

^  Total  at  Dartmoor  -         -         -  5693. 

The  following  are  the  different  descriptions  of 
prisoners,  and  the  number  of  each  class. 

There  were  of  those  discharged  from  British 
ships  of  war  and  also  those  taken  in  England,  2200. 

Coloured  people  -  -  1000. 

United  States'  soldiers  and  sailors  250. 

Taken  on  board  of  privateers  and  merchant- 
ships  -  -  -  -  2243. 

Including  those  few  mentioned,  taken  under  the 
French  flag. 

On  the  same  day  we  received  letters  from  Lon- 
don, informing  us  that  the  ships  taken  for  our- 
conveyance,  lay  wind  bound  in  the  Downs. 


163 

The  month  concluded  with  pleasant  weather 
for  Dartmoor ;  sickness  and  small  pox  had  some- 
what abated. 

The  prisoners  made  a  contribution  for  the 
assistance  of  a  prisoner,  who  had  lost  an  arm  in 
attempting  to  take  possession  of  the  cartel,  which 
was  conveying  them  from  Halifax  to  England. 

As  this  is  intended  to  be  a  true  and  faithful  ac- 
count of  all  the  occurrences  and  circumstances  of 
the  American  captives  in  England,  we  cannot  for- 
bear mentioning  some  circumstances,  which  may 
appear  trifling  and  vminteresting  to  those  wh© 
have  not  felt  as  we  have. 

The  weather  now  being  mild,  and  the  pleasant 
season  for  crossing  the  Atlantic  fast  approaching, 
ihe  prisoners  felt  the  most  insufferable  anxrty 
Ibr  their  departure.  The  winds  being  favourable, 
and  seventeen  days  having  elapsed  smce  the  rati- 
iied  treaty  arrived,  they  could  not  but  Avait  with 
impatience  for  the  cartels. 

On  the  first  of  March,  Capt.  Shortland  receiv- 
ed orders  to  discharge  twenty-one  prisoners,  who 
had  applied  to  be  released  in  England.  Previous 
to  this  time  almost  all  the  men  who  had  been  de- 
livered from  the  British  ships  of  w^ar,  had  been 
paid  at  different  times  their  prize  money,  and  the 
wages  due  for  their  past  services  in  the  navy. 


164 

This  day  a  man  by  the  name  of  Bratt,  who  had 
belongc  j  to  the  United  States'  brig  Argus  returned 
to  prison.  This  man,  at  the  time  we  were  at- 
temptin.^-  to  make  our  escape  by  digging  out,  Avas 
accused  of  dropping  some  unguarded  expression, 
which  had  led  to  a  discovery  of  our  first  attempt ; 
he  was  threatened  to  be  put  to  death,  by  great 
numbers  of  prisoners,  and  the  keepers  fearing 
this  might  be  the  case,  took  him  to  the  guard 
house,  where  he  remained  till  the  crew  of  the 
Argus  was  discharged  from  prison,  when  he  was 
also  discharged  with  them,  and  went  along  with 
the  crew  to  Dartmouth,  and  entered  the  cartel  ; 
he  was  there  accused  of  the  same  as  before,  and 
threatened,  and  fearing  his  life  might  be  taken, 
he  escaped  from  the  cartel,  went  into  the  country 
and  worked  at  his  trade,  which  was  that  of  a 
blacksmith,  and  had  resided  there  the  whole 
time. 

On  tlie  second  we  had  information  that  the 
ship  Milo  of  Boston  had  arrived  in  England  in 
eighteen  days  from  that  port ;  she  was  the  first 
American  vessel  which  had  reached  this  place 
since  the  peace. 

On  the  same  day,  we  received  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Beasley,  which  read  as  follows  : 
"  Fellovv'  Citizens, 

-'  From  the  numberless  letters  I  receive  daily,  J 


165 

find  that  ihe  prisoners  entertain  an  idea  of  my 
releasing  any  prisoners  that  are  enabled  with  a 
sufficiency  to  provide  for  themselves  ;  I  therefore 
must  give  you  fully  my  intention  on ^ that  subject, 
which  is,  to  grant  passports  only  to  such  persons 
as  have  friends  or  connexions  in  this  country,  of 
responsibility. 

"  I  must  also  acquaint  you  that  I  am  making 
every  possible  despatch  with  the  cartels  for  youi 
conveyance  to  the  United  States,  Avhere  you  are 
much  wanted,  and  the  encouragement  for  seamen 
very  great." 

This  letter  again  revived  the  drooping  spirits 
of  the  prisoners,  who  for  many  days  had  been  al- 
most distracted  with  the  tedium  of  suspense.  We 
now  felt  that  a  few  days  would  release  us 
from  this  earthly  hell,  and  like  iEneas  of  old,  pass 
by  propitious  gales  from  hell  to  heaven,  and  short- 
ly repose  on  the  Elysian  fields,  in  the  arms  of  the 
goddess  of  liberty. 

The  prisoners  that  had  kept  shops  in  the  pri- 
sons for  retailing  small  articles,  such  as  tobacco, 
thread,  soap,  coffee,  sugar,  &;c.  now  broke  up, 
and  everything  was  in  great  confusion  for  want  of 
these  articles  ;  these  shops  were  a  great  advan- 
tage to  those  who  kept  them,  and  a  great  accom- 
modation to  all  the  prisoners.  There  had  been 
from  sixty  to  eighty  in  each  prison ;  at  these  pla- 
P 


166 

ces  all  those  small  articles  might  easily  be  obtain- 
ed, though  at  somewhat  higher  price  than  in  the 
market. 

Our  salary  would  not  go  far  in  purchasing  these 
articles,  which  were  very  high  at  this  time  all 
over  England  ;  w^e  could  buy  for  a  penny  sterling, 
only  one  small  chew  of  tobacco,  which  w^as  sel- 
ling at  Plymouth  by  the  quantity  at  nine  shillings 
and  six  pence  per  pound. 

We  find  mentioned  in  the  paper  of  this  day,  the 
arrival  of  the  late  U.  States  frigate  President  at 
Plymouth ;  they  barely  mention  that  she  had  ar- 
rived at  that  place,  and  that  she  was  captured  by 
the  Endymion,  but  the  circumstances  of  the  cap- 
ture they  very  prudently  left  out,  as  reflecting  no 
honour  on  the  captors. 

Capt.  Shortland  had  two  m^en  committed  to 
close  confinement,  who  had  been  accused  of  draw- 
ing money  from  the  Directors  of  Greenwich  Hos- 
pital, under  assumed  names. 

On  the  fourth,  a  circumstance  occurred,  which 
may  lead  to  the  recital  of  other  circumstan- 
ces, which  many  to  whose  hand  this  work  may 
come,  may  be  inclined  to  doubt  the  veracity  of; 
but  I  can  appeal,  not  only  to  those  who  have  certifi- 
ed this  work,  but  to  nearly  six  thousand  of  my  fel- 
low prisoners,  who  upon  their  solemn  oath  can  at- 
test to  the  truth  of  what  is  herein  contained,  jj,  • 


167 

During  the  whole  of  this  day  the  prisoners  re- 
mained without  bread,  and  the  captain  of  the  pri- 
son gone  to  Plymouth  ;  we  vrcre  obliged  to  subsist 
on  the  four  and  a  half  ounces  of  beef,  and  the 
soup  made  of  it ;  we  demanded  of  the  contractor 
the  reason  of  our  not  drawing  our  usual  allowance 
of  bread  ;  he  answered,  that  it  could  not  be  ob- 
tained till  to-morrow ;  we  waited  as  patiently  as 
our  feelings  would  allow,  till  the  expiration  of 
thirty-six  hours  from  the  time  we  had  received  the 
last  bread,  when  hunger  became  so  pressing,  that  it 
drove  us  to  a  state  of  desperation,  and  we  could 
no  longer  endure  it,  as  the  whole  allowance  was 
scarcely  sufficient  to  sustain  life.  At  dusk  in  the 
evening,  we  again  demanded  the  reason  of  our  not 
receiving  our  allowance  of  bread  as  usual,  as  the 
store-house  we  well  knew  contained  a  sufficiency 
of  both  hard  and  soft  bread.  The  contractor's 
clerk  informed  us,  that  a  quantity  of  damaged 
hard  bread,  which  had  been  kept  in  reserve  for 
times  of  extreme  necessity,  now  remained  on  hand, 
and  that  unless  we  would  accept  of  one  pound  of 
that  in  lieu  of  the  pound  and  a  half  of  soft  bread 
allowed  by  the  Transport  Board,  until  all  they 
had  was  expended,  he  should  not  serve  us  with 
any  bread,  until  Capt.  Shortland  returned  from 
Plymouth. 


168 


The  prisoners  then  collected   themselves  into 
companies,  to  consider  of  this  very  extraordinary 
conduct  in   the  contractor ;  and  after  mature  de- 
liberation, they  all  concluded  that  it  must  be  a  de- 
sign in  the  contractor  to  get  rid  of  his  damaged 
bread,  before  we  went  away,  and  had  taken  this  op- 
portunity, while  the  captain  was  absent,  to  compel 
us  to  receive  it  by  starving  us  till  we  were  wil- 
ling ;  we  therefore  concluded  rather  to  die  by  the 
sword,  than  the  famine,  and  determined  to  remain 
no  longer  in  this  starving  condition,  for  we  had  all 
this  time  lived  solely  on  the  four  and  a  half  ounces 
of  beef.     Thus  desperate  by  starvation,  we  deter- 
mined to  force  open  the  gates  in  front  of  the  prison, 
disarm  the  soldiers,  break  open  the  store-house? 
and  supply  ourselves  ;  and  provided  the  garrison 
should  charge  or  fire  upon  us,  to  make  a  general 
attack,  and  tak^  possession  of  the  guard  house 
and  barracks,  and  stand  the  consequences  let  come 
what  might.     Accordingly  at  dark,  the  prisoners 
v/ere  ordered,  as  usual,   inside  the  prisons  to  be 
locked  up  for  the  night,  but  instead  of  complying 
with  orders,  a  signal  previously  agreed  on  was 
given,  and   passed  like   lightning  through  every 
prison,  and  every  prisoner  appeared  instantly  at 
the  gate  in  one  solid  body ;  on  approaching  the 
gates,  and  bursting  open  the  first  three,  the  sol- 
diers and  turnkeys  stationed  there,  iled  in  the  ut- 


169 

most  coniiision  and  consternation  to  the  main 
body  in  the  guard  house.  The  alarm  bells  rung 
and  the  drums  in  every  direction  around  the  gar- 
rison beat  to  arms ;  the  women  in  the  different 
houses  connected  to  the  depot,  flew  in  confusion 
and  terror  in  every  direction  from  the  depot ;  in  a 
few  moments  the  alarm  had  reached  the  neigh- 
bouring villages  for  many  miles,  and  the  militia 
assembled  in  arms  to  assist  the  garrison,  which 
was  at  this  time  twelve  hundred.  We  stood  ar- 
ranged in  front  of  the  store-house  ready  to  re- 
ceive the  attack  of  the  soldiery,  or  receiv^e  our 
usual  allowance  of  bread  ;  in  a  few  moments  the 
soldiers  arrived  and  advanced  with  charged  bay- 
onets within  two  yards  of  the  prisoners.  The 
soldiers  were  then  brought  to  a  stand  by  the 
threats  of  the  prisoners,  who  all  declared,  in  the 
most  determined  tone,  that  if  they  attempted  to 
fii-e  or  make  a  charge  on  them,  they  must  abide 
by  any  consequences  that  would  follow  :  we  told 
them  that  we  were  confident  that  no  such  orders 
had  been  issued  from  the  government  of  Great 
Britain  ;  we  also  tol  J  them,  that  unless  the  bread 
was  served  out  immediately,  that  the  store-house 
should  be  levelled  with  the  ground,  and  every 
prisoner  should  march  out  of  the  prison.  The 
contractor,  clerks,  &lc.  then  immediately  came  for- 
ward and  entered  into  this  engagement,  that  if  the 
P  2 


17© 

« 

prisoners  would  retire  into  the  prison  yards,  that 
the  bread  should  be  immediately  served  to  them  ; 
the  prisoners  agreed  and  retired,  and  for  the  se- 
curing the  fulfilment  of  the  engagement,  they 
took  with  them  as  a  hostage  one  of  the  clerks  inside 
of  the  prison,  and  there  to  remain  till  every  prisoner 
had  received  his  usual  allowance  of  bread,  which 
was  not  till  after  twelve  o'clock  at  night.  During 
this  time,  the  guards,  soldiers,  keepers,  and  every 
person  connected  with  the  prison,  remained  in  the 
greatest  apprehension,  fearing  the  prisoners  had 
some  further  intention  than  merely  to  obtain  their 
bread ;  they  feared  their  troubles  would  end  in  a 
more  serious  way,  and  the  prisoners  all  make 
their  escape.  But  next  morning  showed  that  the 
prisoners  had  no  intention  of  escaping,  for  during 
the  confusion  of  the  night,  many  of  them  had  ta- 
ken the  opportunity  to  scale  the  walls  in  an  oppo- 
site direction,  w^hile  the  attention  of  the  guard  was 
taken  up  with  the  main  body  of  tliem. 

Those  that  had  gone  out  after  remaining  all 
night,  came  and  demanded  admittance  into  prison 
again.  This  movement  in  the  prisoners  astonished 
the  natives  of  the  moor,  who  left  vacant  their  huts 
and  fled  for  safety  ;  the  women  and  children  had 
retired  to  the  nearest  towns,  and  there  took  refuge, 
and  the  men  had  joined  the  garrison  for  protection. 


171 

During  the  night  an  express  was  sent  to  Ply- 
mouth to  acquaint  Capt.  Shortland  of  the  event 
and  that  the  prisoners  had  complete  possession  of 
the  whole  garrison,  and  the  control  of  all  things  at 
Dartmoor.  In  the  morning  Capt.  Shortland  ar- 
rived with  a  reinforcement  of  two  hundred  sol- 
fliers  ;  but  found  all  things  quiet  and  tranquil-^  as 
the  prisoners  had  obtained  their  usual  allov.ance 
of  bread,  they  were  satisfied  and  sought  nothing 
more.  Capt.  Shortland  made  an  apology  for  the 
fault  of  the  contractor,  and  things  passed  on  tolera- 
bly well ;  but  great  suspicions  remained  among 
the  people  who  had  formerly  attended  the  market, 
?.nd  these  had  spread  abroad  and  become  the  gene- 
ral opinion  outside  of  the  walls,  that  the  Amerir 
can  prisoners  being  detained  so  long  since  the 
ratification  had  arrived,  now  three  weeks,  in  v.hich 
time  Mr.  Bcasley  might  have  had  all  discharged, 
and  on  their  passage  to  the  United  States,  had 
grown  impatient,  and  as  no  ships  had  yet  saded 
from  London  to  receive  them,  their  forbearance 
was  quite  exhausted,  and  from  some  threats  that 
had  been  thrown  out  by  some  of  the  prisoners  in 
presence  of  the  market  people,  that  if  the  agent  of 
their  country  did  not  procure  their  release  with- 
in one  month  from  the  arrival  of  the  treaty,  that 
they  would  take  their  liberty  m  a  body,  being  de- 
termined to  risque  their  lives  at  all  hazards,  and 


172 

depend  on  their  owii  exertions  for  their  liberty 
amon^-  armed  soldiers,  rather  than  remain  in  the 
v/retched  conJition  they  were  then  in.  These 
suspicions  had  gone  so  much  abroad,  that  every 
boJy  about  the  prison  was  apprehensive  the  pri- 
soners would  make  the  attempt  lo  escape  in  a 
boiy,  and  some  unhappy  issue  grow  out  of  it. 
But  the  prisoners  generally  had  no  design  of  es- 
caping, as  by  that  means  they  would  lose  their  op- 
portunity of  returning  home  in  the  cartels.  On  the 
sixth,  We  addressed  a  letter  to  Mr.  Beasley,  on  the 
3u])ject  of  our  discharge,  and  informed  him  that 
we  had  made  application  to  the  British  govern- 
ment to  interfere  in  forwarding  our  release,  as  he, 
Mr.  Beasley,  had  delayed  the  time  already  nearly 
one  month,  and  had  only  procured  three  ships, 
and  them  still  in  London,  when  at  the  same  time 
ships  could  have  been  procured  at  Plymouth,  on 
equally  as  good  terms  as  at  London,  which  would, 
with  very  httle  exertions  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Beas- 
ley, have  released  the  greater  part  of  the  prison- 
ers in  two  weeks,  from  the  arrival  of  the  ratifica- 
tion of  the  treaty. 

The  story  I  am  about  to  relate  is  of  the  deepest 
concern,  as  well  to  every  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  as  to  those  who  were  the  immediate  sub- 
jects of  it.  The  event  concerns  the  interest  of 
both  governments,  and  deserve  to  be  treated  in 


175 

the  most  candid  and  impartial  manner ;  every  tran- 
saction whereby  the  intention  of  those  acting  in  it 
can  be  discovered,  require  to  be  shown  in  the 
purest  and  most  open  view. 

That  the  public  may  have  all  that  can  be  known 
on  this  important  subject,  I  propose  to  lay  before 
them,  in  the  first  instance,  what  passed  within  my 
ovrn  knowledge,  that  I  myself  was  witness  to: 
then  to  give  them  the  report  of  the  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  prisoners,  to  investigate  the  circum- 
stances of  the  massacre  ;  and  lastly,  to  give  the 
report  of  the  agents  appointed  by  the  two  govern- 
ments. 

What  one  of  that  nation,  or  what  soldier  of  that 
hardened,  wretched  band,  can  refrain  from  tears 
even  while  he  relates  the  murderous  deeds  ? 
''  What  blind,  detested  madness  could  afford 
Such  horrid  license  to  the  murd'ring  sword  !" 
Though  the  scene  is  of  painful  memory,  and  my 
sovd   shudders    at   the  remembrance,    and    hath 
shrunk  back  with  grief  at  the  thought,  yet  will  I 
relate  what  my  eyes  hath  seen  and  my  ears  heard. 
On  the  sixth  of  this   month,  April,   about  six 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  Capt.  Shordand  discovered 
a  hole  in  the  inner  wall,  that  separates   the  bar- 
rack-yard from  prison  No.  6  and  7  ;  this  hole  had 
been  made  in  the  afternoon,  by  some  prisoners  out 
of  mere  play,  without  any  design  to  escape, 


174 

On  discovering  the  hole,  Capt.  Shortland  seemed 
instantly  to  conceive  the  murderous  design  ;  for 
without  giving  the  prisoners  any  notice  to  retire, 
he  planted  soldiers  in  proper  positions  on  the  top 
of  the  wall,  where  they  could  best  assist  in  perpe- 
trating his  murderous  and  barbarous  deeds. 

A  few  mmvitea  past  six,  whilp  the  prisoners  were 
innocently,  and  unapprehensive  of  mischief,  walk- 
ing in  the  prison  yards,  and  those  in  No.  1,  3  &  4, 
were  particularly  so,  as  the  yards  of  these  prisons 
are  entirely  separated  every  way  from  the  j^ard  ift 
which  the  hole  in  the  wall  had  been  made  ; — the 
alarm  bells  rung,  and  the  drums  of  the  garrison  in 
every  direction  beat  to  arms  :  this  was  about  ten 
minutes  past  six. 

This  sudden  and  unexpected  alarm,  excited  the 
attention  of  all  the  prisoners,  who  out  of  curiosity 
made  immediately  for  the  gates  of  the  prison  yard, 
to  inquire  the  reason  of  the  alarm. 

Among  so  many  as  were  in  this  depot,  it  is  rea- 
sonable to  suppose  that  some  mischievous  persons 
were  among  them,  and  among  those  collected  at 
the  gate  were  some  such  persons  who  forced  the 
gates  open,  whether  by  accident  or  design  I  will 
not  attempt  to  say  ;  but  without  any  intention  of 
making  an  escape,  and  totally  unknown  to  every 
man,  except  the  few  v/ho  stood  in  front  of  the 
gates :  those  back  naturally  crowded  fdrward  to, 


175 


sec  what  was  going  on  at  the  gates  ;  this  pressed 
and  forced  a  number  through  the  gates,  quite  con- 
trary to  the  intention  of  either  those  in  front  or 
those  in  rear. 

While  in  this  situation,  Capt.  Shortland  entered 
the  inner  square  at  the  head  of  the  whole  body  of 
soldiers  in  the  garrison  ;  as  soon  as  they  entered, 
Capt.  Shortland  took  sole  command  of  the  whole, 
and  immediately  drew  up  the  soldiers  in  a  position 
to  charge. 

The  soldier-officers,  perceiving  by  this  move, 
the  horrid  and  murderous  design  of  Capt.  Short- 
land,  resigned  their  authority  over  the  soldiers^ 
and  refused  to  take  any  part,  or  give  any  orders 
ibr  the  troop  to  fire. 

They  saw  by  this  time,  that  the  terrified  priso- 
ners were  retiring  as  fast  as  so  great  a  crowd  would 
permit,  and  hurrying  and  flying  in  terrible  flight, 
in  every  direction  to  their  respective  prisons. 

The  troop  had  now  advanced  within  three  yards 
of  the  prisoners,  when  Capt.  Shortland  gave  them 
orders  to  charge  upon  them  ;  at  this  time  the 
prisoners  had  all  got  within  their  respective  prison 
yards,  and  were  fliying  with  the  greatest  precipi- 
tation from  the  point  of  the  bayonet ;  the  doors 
now  being  full  of  the  terrified  crowd,  they  could 
not  enter  as  fast  as  they  wished  ;  at  this  moment 
of  dismay,  Capt.  Shortland  was   distinctly  heard 


176 

10  give  orders  to  the  troops  to  fire  upon  the  priso- 
ners, although  now  completely  in  his  power,  and 
their  liv^es  at  his  disposal,  and  had  offered  no  vio- 
lence, nor  attempted  to  resist,  and  the  gates  all 
closed. 

The  order  was  immediately  obeyed  by  his  sol- 
diers, and  they  discharged  a  full  volley  of  musketry 
into  the  main  body  of  the  prisoners,  on  the  other 
side  of  the  iron  railings  which  separated  the  pris- 
oners from  the  soldiers. 

These  volleys  were  repeated  for  several  rounds, 
and  the  prisoners  falling,  either  dead  or  wounded, 
in  all  directions,  while  it  was  yet  impossible  for 
^hem  to  enter  the  prison,  on  account  of  the  num- 
bers that  flew  there  for  refuge  from  the  rage  of  the 
blood-thirsty  murderer. 

In  the  midst  of  this  horrid  slaughter,  one  man 
among  the  rear  prisoners,  with  great  p^'esence  of 
mind  and  the  most  undaunted  courage,  turned  and 
advanced  to  the  soldiers,  amidst  the  fire  of  hun- 
dreds, and  while  his  fellow-prisoners  were  falling 
all  around  him,  and  in  a  humble  and  suppliant 
manner,  with  his  hat  in  his  hand,  this  resolute  soul, 
in  the  face  of  danger  and  death,  implored  mercy 
of  Captain  Shortland  to  spare  his  countrymen  ; 
O  '.  spare  my  countrymen  !  he  cried  ;  O  !  Captain 
f'Tbear,  dont  kill  us  all! — To  this  supplication, 
this  cruel,  inexorable  Shortland  replied — Retire, 


177 


fon  damned  rascal :  I'll  hear  to  nothing !  The  soU 
diers  then  pricked  him  with  their  bayonets,  which 
oompelled  him  to  retreat  to  the  prison-door,  where 
he  must  wait  his  doom  with  the  other  unfortunate 
prisoners,  till  the  soldiers,  who  had  now  entered 
the  different  prison  yards,  and  were  pursuing  and 
firing,  should  despatch  him  with  the  rest. 

To  do  justice  to  the  merits  of  this  young  man, 
I  must  inform  the  public  that  his  name  is  Green- 
low,  of  Virginia,  and  late  a  midshipman  in  the  U. 
States  navy,  but  now  a  prisoner  of  the  crew  of  the 
privateer  Prince  of  Ncufchattel. 

The  soldiers  now  advanced,  making  a  general 
massacre  of  men  and  boys,  whom  accidents  or 
impossibility  had  left  without  the  doors  of  the 
prison ;  they  advanced  near  to  the  crowded  doors, 
and  instantly  discharged  another  volley  of  mus- 
ketry on  the  backs  of  those  farthest  out,  endea- 
vouring to  force  their  passage  into  the  prison. 

This  barbarous  act  was  repeated  in  the  presence 
of  this  inhuman  monster, Shortland — and  the  priso- 
ners fell,  either  dead  or  severely  wounded,  in  all 
directions  before  his  savage  sight. 

But  his  vengeance  was  not  glutted  by  the  cruel 
murder  of  the  innocent  men  and  boys,  that  lay 
weltering  and  bleeding  in  the  groans  and  agonies 
of  death  along  the  prison-doors,  but  turned  and 
■traversed  the  yard,  and  hunted  a  poor  affrighted 

Q 


178 


vretch,  that  had  flew  for  safety  close  under  the 
walls  of  prison  No.  1,  and  dared  not  move  lest  he 
should  be  discovered,  and  immediate  death  be  his 
lot. 

But  alas  !  the  unhappy  man  was  discovered  by 
these  hell-hounds,  with  this  deamon  at  their  head, 
and  with  cool  and  deliberate  malice,  drew  up  their 
muskets  to  their  shoulders  and  despatched  the  un- 
happy victim,  while  in  the  act  of  imploring  mercy 
from  their  hands.  His  only  crime  was  not  being 
able  to  get  into  the  prison  without  being  shot  be- 
fore. 

In  the  yard  of  No.  seven,  they  found  in  their 
hunt,  another  hajoless  victim,  crouching  close  along 
the  wall  at  the  far  end  of  the  yard,  and  fearing  to 
breathe,  lest  he  should  share  the  fate  of  his  unfor- 
tunate countrymen  that  had  already  fallen  a  sacri- 
fice to  the  rage  of  this  lawless  banditti ;  when  O  ! 
cruel  to  relate,  five  of  them  drew  up  the  instru- 
ments of  death,  and  by  the  order  of  this  fell  mur- 
derer, discharged  their  contents  into  the  body  of 
this  innocent  man,  while  begging  them  to  spare  his 
life  ! 

This  Mero^  now  having  accomplished  his  mur- 
derous designs,  retired  with  his  troops  from  the 
yard,  and  left  it  a  horrid  scene  of  his  relentlesf^ 
rasfo.  ! 


179 

The  dead  and  the  wounded  lay  scattered  about 
the  yard  ;  seven  were  killed  dead  on  the  spot,  and 
six  with  the  loss  of  a  leg  or  an  arm,  and  dange- 
rously wounded  :  several  were  pronounced  mortal. 
The  names  of  every  man.  either  killed  or  wound- 
ed,  will  be  given  in  the  catalogue  annexed. 

As  it  was  much  feared  the  murderers  would  en- 
deavour to  conceal  many  of  the  dead,  Dr.  M'Grath, 
head  surgeon  of  the  Hospital,  an  honest  skil- 
ful man,  entered  immediately  after  Shortland  re- 
tired, and  exerted  his  utmost  ability  in  collecting 
the  dead  and  wounded  from  the  several  prison 
yards,  and  conveying  them  to  the  Hospital. 

At  the  same  time,  he  sent  to  the  neighbouring 
towns  to  call  in  the  aid  of  medical  gentlemen  that 
resided  there  ;  he  also  demanded  admittance  into 
the  prisons,  which  were  now  closed,  to  receive  the 
dead  and  wounded  that  had  reached  the  inside  of 
the  prison. 

A  despatch  was  inamediately  sent  to  Plymouth^ 
to  inform  the  Admiral  and  Commodore,  and  the 
Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Military  Department, 
of  the  fatal  sixth  of  April ^  one  thousand  eight  hurt' 
dred  andf/teen^  which  day  must  be  of  horrid  mem- 
ory to  every  American,  whose  mind  will  revolt  with 
indignity  at  the  name  of  SHORTLAND  and  the 
MASSACRE  AT  DARTMOOR  !  I. 


180 

Bhoriland !  thou  foul  monster  and  inhuman  vi^ 
lain  !  is  thy  soul  glutted  with  the  blood  of  the  in- 
nocent victims,  that  fate  had  doomed  to  thy  re- 
vengeful and  blood-thirsty  power  ?  I  appeal  to  the 
world  to  say,  whether  the  conduct  of  Warren  Has- 
tings, whether  the  massacre  of  St.  Domingo,  caa 
exceed  the  horrid  catastrophe  of  this  ill-fated 
nrght,  conducted  under  the  immediate  inspection 
of  your  murderous  eye  ?  and  should  the  laws  of 
your  country  not  doom  you  to  a  death  of  the 
most  severe  nature,  as  a  publick  example  for  your 
well  known  crimes,  your  whole  nation  is  involved 
as  a  black  accomplice  in  your  monstrous  guilt  ; 
and  the  bloodof  my  unfortunate  countrymen,  shed 
by  your  base  hand,  must  ever  remain  a  stain  to  the 
character  of  your  nation. 

Tell  me,  ye  bloody  butchers  !  and  thou  wh© 
contrived,  as  well  as  ye  who  executed  the  execra- 
ble design,  how  dare  ye  breathe  that  air,  which 
wafted  to  the  ear  of  Majesty  the  groans  of  the 
wounded  and  the  dying  ?  How  dare  ye  tread  that 
earth,  which  is  wet  with  the  blood  of  the  innocent, 
shed  by  your  accursed  hands  ?  Do  not  the  goads 
and  stings  of  conscious  guilt  wound  you  in  your 
daily  w^alks  ?  Do  not  the  ghosts  of  the  murdered 
rise  before  you  in  your  nightly  dreams  ? 

On  the  morning  of  the  seventh,  by  order  of  tlie 
commander  in  chief  at  Plymouth,  a  Celoncl,  with  a 


181 


reinforcement  of  troops,  arrived,  and  took  com- 
mand of  the  depot.  Immediately  on  his  arrival, 
he  sent  notice  to  the  prisoners  of  his  taking  the 
command,  and  that  Capt.  Shortland  wished  the 
prisoners  to  appoint  some  few  men  to  receive  the 
explanation  of  his  last  night's  conduct ;  but  we 
unanimously  agreed,  and  despatched  a  letter  to  the 
colonel,  acquainting  him,that  as  citizens  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  of  America,  we  should  conceive  it  a  dis- 
grace to  the  national  character  of  our  country,  to 
hold  any  communication  with  the  murderer  of  our 
fellow  citizens.  But  provided  the  Colonel  should 
require  any  conference  with  the  prisoners,  they 
should  at  any  time  with  pleasure  attend,  and  ex- 
plain the  nature  of  £very  past  event. 

The  colonel  requesting  a  conference,  came  to  the 
gate  attended  by  the  guilty  Shortland,  who  could 
not  now  disguise  the  guilt  of  his  crime  ;  he  could 
not  look  a  prisoner  in  the  face ;  as  he  walked  along 
towards  the  prison  bars  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the 
ground,  and  as  he  came  to  the  spot  where  a  few 
hours  before  lay  one  of  our  murdered  countrymen, 
he  saw  the  blood,  and  faintly  attempted  to  speak, 
but  the  monitor  of  Heaven  was  not  quite  over- 
eo!nc  by  the  powers  of  Hell,  and  he  could  not  ut- 
ter a  word.  After  several  efforts,  he  hesitatingly 
attempted  to  justify  his  conduct,  by  saying  it  was 
a  part  of  his  duty,  which  was  grounded  on  the 
Q  2 


182 

lear  he  had  of  the  prisoners  making  an  attempt 
to  escape,  and  imputed  part  of  the  fauk  to  Mr. 
Beasley,  in  driving  the  prisoners  to  a  state  of  des- 
peration by  his  great  delay  of  sending  thena 
home. 

The  Colonel  very  patiently  heard  the  stories  of 
both  parties,  and  promised  a  jury  of  inquest  should 
be  held  over  the  bodies  of  our  departed  country- 
men the  next  day,and  a  strict  investigation  of  every 
circumstance  of  the  event  had  according  to  evi- 
dence. 

At  nine  o'clock,  we  hoisted  the  colours  half- 
mast  on  every  prison  ;  we  then  visited  the  hospi- 
tal, but  the  spectacle  was  painful  indeed,  and 
enough  to  freeze  the  blood  of  the  most  hardened 
, parricide  ;  the  tables  were  covered  with  the  am- 
putated legs  and  arms  of  our  fellow  prisoners,  and 
our  ears  stunned  with  the  groans  of  forty-tvv'o 
wounded  in  a  most  shocking  manner,  and  seven 
lay  dead  as  solemn  witnesses  of  the  horrid  act. 

We  then  returned  to  the  prisons  and  appointed 
a  committee  of  ten  to  take  depositions  of  a  great 
number  of  persons  who  were  best  acquainted  with 
the  particular  facts.  The  committee  being  seve- 
rally sworn,  proceeded  to  make  all  possible  in- 
(\mvy  into  the  circumstanc.es  of  the  massacre,  and 
prepare  every  testimony  to  lay  before  the  jury, 
which  were  to  sit  over  the  bodies  the  next  day. 


183 


At  two  in  the  afternoon  arrived  an  Admiral  and 
another  officer  of  high  rank  in  his  Majesty's  na- 
vy, and  after  introducing  themselves  to  the  pri- 
soners, in  a  very  friendly  and  feeling  manner,  ex- 
pressed their  extreme  regret  for  the  horrid  and 
barbarous  act  of  Capt,  Shortland,  and  informed 
us  that  they  had  come  clothed  with  proper  autho- 
rity to  make  inquiry  into  the  conduct  of  Capt. 
Shortland  in  the  late  unhappy  event,  and  his  con- 
duct during  his  agency  at  the  prison.  They  as- 
sured us,  that  he  would  be  called  to  an  account  by 
the  government,  and  that  a  fair  investigation 
should  be  had  of  all  his  conduct. 

I  have  omitted  to  mention  a  circumstance  which 
occurred  during  the  dreadful  scene  of  the  night. 
A  lamp-lighter,  who  was  in  the  act  of  lighting  the 
lamp  at  the  door  of  prison  No.  3,  in  which  I  my- 
self resided,  being  compelled  to  take  refuge 
among  the  prisoners,  was  forced  by  the  hurrying 
group  into  the  prison.  He  belonged  to  the  same 
reo;iment  of  soldiers  who  were  that  moment  com- 
mitting these  most  horrid  outrages.  He  was  imme- 
diately seized  by  the  prisoners,  and  conveyed  to  a 
particular  part  of  the  prison,  and  the  prisoners 
being  in  the  most  enraged  state,  it  was  immedi- 
ately proposed  to  put  him  to  death,  and  sacrifice 
him  to  our  resentment,  as  a  just  retaliation  of  cur 
injury  5    but    on    cool    deliberation    and   debate 


184 


-throughout  the  prison,  it  was  thought  better  to 
spare  him  ;  and  to  the  pleasing  astonishineni  of 
this  man,  half  dead  with  fear,  he  was  told  to  rest 
easy,  for  his  life  should  not  be  taken,  but  he  should 
be  preserved,  that  the  whole  world  might  distin- 
guish the  difference  of  humanity  between  unpro- 
voked British  soldiers,  and  the  injured  and  f)ro- 
voked  American  seamen  ;  accordingly,  when  the 
doors  were  opened  to  take  out  the  wounded,  the 
man  was  released,  which  astonished  and  confound- 
ed the  whole  soldiery,  who  felt  the  force  of  the  re- 
proach with  the  keenest  remorse,  and  were  com- 
pelled to  express  the  highest  respect  for  this 
generous  revenge. 

The  following  is  a  correct  list  of  killed  and  zoound- 
ed  on  the  6th  of  April^  1815,  and  contains  a 
true  statement  of  their  condition  at  \2  o"^  clock 
on  the  Sth  day  of  the  same  month. 
Killed, 
John  Haywood,  black,  Virginia,  discharged  ;  the 
ball  entered  a  little  posterior  to  the  acromion 
of  the  left  shoulder,  and  passed  obliquely  up^ 
wards  ;  made  about  the  middle  of  the  right  side 
its  egress  of  the  neck. 
Thomas  Jackson,  N.   Y.  Orbit  of  N.  Y.  the  ball 
entered  the  left  side  of  the  belly  nearly  in  a  line 
with  the  navel,  and  made  its  egress  a  little  be- 
low the  false  ribs  in  the  opposite  side  ;  a  large 


185 

portion  of  the  intestinal  canal  protruded 
through  the  wound  made  by  the  ingress  of  the 
ball.  He  languished  until  3  o'clock  of  the  7th, 
when  he  died. 

John  Washington,  Maryland,  Rolla  privateer ; 
the  ball  entered  at  the  squamore  process  of 
the  left  temporal  bone,  and  passing  through  the 
head,  made  its  exit  a  little  below  the  cruceal 
ridge  of  the  occipital  bone. 

James  Mann,  Boston,  Giro;  the  ball  entered  at 
the  inferior  angle  of  the  left  scapula,  and  lodg- 
ed under  the  integument  of  the  right  pectoral 
muscle.  In  its  course  it  passed  through  the 
inferior  margin  of  the  rio^ht  and  left  lobes  of  the 
lungs. 

Joseph  Toker  Johnson,  not  known  ;  the  ball  en- 
tered at  the  inferior  angle  of  the  left  scapula, 
penetrated  the  heart,  and  passing  through  both 
lobes  of  the  lungs,  made  its  egress  at  the  right 
axilla. 

William  Leverage,  N.  Y.  Saratoga :  the  ball  en- 
tered about  the  middle  of  the  left  arm,  through 
which  It  passed,  and  penetrating  the  corres- 
ponding side,  betwixt  the  second  and  third  ribs, 
passing  through  the  left  lobe  of  the  lungs,  the 
mediartenum,  and  over  the  right  lobe,  lodged 
betwixt  the  fifth  and  sixth  ribs. 

James  Campbell,  N.  V,  discharged ;  the  ball  ea? 


186 

tered  at  the  outer  angle  of  the  right  eye,  and 
in  its  course  fractured  and  depressed  the  great- 
er part  of  the  frontal  bone,  fracttired  the  nasal 
bones,  and  made  its  egress  above  the  orbital 
ridge  of  the  left  eye.  He  languished  until  the 
morning  of  the  8th,  when  he  died. 

Dangerously  wounded,  and  limbs  amputaUd  immt' 
diately,  on  the  night  of  the  sixth, 

John  Gray,  Virginia,  prize  to  the  Paul  Jones,  left 
arm. 

James  Wills,  Marblehead,  Paul  Jones,  left  arm. 

James  Trumbull,Portland,Mame,  Elbridge  Gerry, 
left  arm. 

Robert  Willet,  Portland,  Maine,  left  thigh. 

Tiiomas  Smith,  New- York,  Paul  Jones,  left  thigh. 

John  Gier,  Boston,  Rambler,  left  thigh. 

Wm.  Leversage,  N.  York,  Magdalen,  right  thumb. 

Dangerously  zvou?ided,  limbs  not  amputated 

on  the  Sth, 

Thomas  Findley,  Marblehead,  Enterprise,  wound- 
ed in  the  thigh  and  back. 

Ephraim  Linson. 

John  Hogerberth,  Philadelphia,  Good  Friends,  of 
do.  thigh  and  hip. 

William  Blake,  Kennebeck,  discharged,   M.   W. 
three  wounds  in  the  body. 

Peter  Vfilson,  New- York,  Virginia  Planter,  in  the 
hand. 


187 

James  Israel,  do.  do.  thigh. 

Jacob  Davis,  do.  do.  thigh. 

Caleb  Cottoo,  Taunton,  Mass.  M.  W.  two  place? 
in  the  boJy. 

John  Roberts,  do.  do.  thigh. 

Joseph  Phipps,  OU  Concord,  Zebra,  thigh  and 
belly. 

William  Lamb,   do.  do.  eyes. 

Edward  Gardner,  Marblehead,  impressed,  in  the 
wrist. 

William  Appleby,  N.  York,  Magdelen,  arm. 

James  Bell,  Philadelphia,  Joel  Barlow,  wrist  and 
thigh. 

Philip  Ford,  Philadelphia,  impressed,  five  wounds, 
side,  breast,  back,  and  thigh. 

Jam.es  Birch,  thigh. 

Henry  Montcalm,  Roxbury,  Mass.  Governor  Tom- 
kins,  knee. 

Andrew  Garrison,  tliigh  and  head. 

Robert  Tadley,  Bath,  Maine,  Grand  Turk,  pri- 
vates. 

William  Penn,  Virginia,  impressed,  thigh. 

Joseph  Reugli,  thigh. 

Ta  iddeus  Hov/ard,  Rochester,  Mass.  Hart  of  Bed- 
ford, leg. 

Edward  Banker,  Portsmouth,  K.  H.  impressed, 
back. 


188 

Thomas  George,  Norfolk,  Virginia,  U.  S.  Rattle- 
Snake,  thigh. 
Alexander  Wilson,  Providence,  R.  I.  Leo,  hand 

and  leg. 
John  Surrey,  N.  Y.  French  privateer,  cheek. 
Nathaniel  Wakeneld,  Beverly,  Mass.  Giro,  right 

knee. 
Samuel  E.  Tyler,  Boston,  Tom,  thigh  and  arm. 
Joseph  Reaver,  Salem,  Mass.  legs  and  thighs. 
Stephen  S.   Vincent,  New-Jersey,  head  and  ears. 
James  Christie,  Tickler,  different  places. 
William  Smith,  New-York. 
Robert  Willet,  Portland,  man  of  war,  knee. 
Slightly  wounded, 
Greenlovr,  Virginia,  different  places. 
Ephraim  Lincoln,  Boston,  Argus,  by  the  bayonet. 
James  Newman,   Baltimore,    impressed,    by  the 

bayonet. 
Alexander  Peterson,  N.   York,  Erin,  Boston,   by 

the  bayonet. 
Joseph  Music,  Charleston,  S.  C.    impressed,  by 

the  bayonet. 
John  Willet,  Philadelphia,  by  the  bayonet. 
Joseph  Hindil,  Philadelphia,  Young  Wasp,  in  the 

h-nd. 
Perry   Richardson,  Bath,  Maine,   Rolla,  by  the 

h-xyonet. 
John  Cowen»  Teezer,  by  the  bayonet. 


189 

Jairies  Barker,  Wiscasset,  Elbridge  Gerry,  ^by  the 

bayonet. 
James   Wedgewood,    Porlsmouth,    N.    H.  Lark. 

in  the  head. 
James  Mathews,  Delaware,  by  the  bayonet, 
John  P^Iurray,  New- York,  by  the  bayonet. 
William  Marshal,  Lawrence,  by  the  bayonet. 
Thomas  Johnson,  Albany,  Criterion,  by  the  bayo- 
net. 

The  list  of  killed  and  wounded  contains  all  that 
could  be  ascertained  at  that  time,  but  great  sus- 
picions remained  among  the  prisoners  that  more 
liad  been  killed,  than  were  certainly  known,  as 
some  were  missing,  and  not  to  be  found  among 
the  living,  or  the  dead  ;  it  was  sup])osed  that 
these  had  been  killed,  and  being  mangled  in  a 
most  shocking  manner,  were  privately  taken  away 
by  Capt.  Shortland,  and  buried  that  night,  before 
doctor  Magrath  entered  the  yard,  and  a  re])ort 
prevailed  that*  he  had  done  it:  as  great  numters 
who  were  slightly  wounded  did  not  go  to  the  hos- 
pital, I,  to  ascertam^the  exact  number  of  killed  and 
wounded,  took  the  list  of  those  in  the  hospital, 
from  the  doctor's  books,  and  every  prison  muster- 
ed all  those  that  refused  going  to  the  hospital,  by 
which  means  the  list  can  be  depended  on  as  strict- 
ly correct. 

R 


190 


1 


At  twelve  o'clock,  at  noon,  on  the  eighth,  a  ju- 
ry of  inquest  arrived,  composed  of  twelve  farmers, 
and  a  coroner,  and  sat  over  the  bodies  of  our  mur- 
dered countrymen  ;  they  began  to  take  the  de- 
positions of  the  prisoners  and  turnkeys,  and  pro- 
^ceeded  on  till  seven  in  the  evening,  and  adjourned 
till  next  morning. 

The  evidence  of  the  prisoners  corresponded 
with  the  statement  in  a  preceding  page. 

On  the  morning  of  the  ninth,  the  dead  not  yefe 
being  buried,  the  jury  sat  over  them  again,  and 
proceeded  on  with  the  evidence  on  both  sides, 
which  consisted  of  Dr.  Magrath,  whose  evidence 
was  against  Shortland,  prisoners,  turnkeys,  sol- 
dier-officers, soldiers,  &zc. 

The  summary  of  the  evidence  I  shall  give  pre- 
sently ;  but  I  must  here  digress  a  little  to  give 
some  circumstances  that  intervened  betwixt  the 
taking  of  the  depositions,  and  the  verdict  of  the 
jury. 

This  morning  an  order  arrived  for  the  discharge 
of  thirty-four  prisoners,  v/ho  had  applied  to  be  re- 
ieaNed  to  man  ships  in  different  parts  of  Europe. 
During  the  eighth  and  ninth,  the  prisoners  made 
every  inquiry  in  their  power  to  learn  whether 
any  were  missing,  who  were  not  included  among 
the  dead,  wounded,  or  discharged;  but  nothing 
sUtisfactory  could  be  obtained,  but  only  a  report 


191 

that  alter  the  prisons  were  closed,  Capt.  Shortland 
had  secretly  buried  some  of  the  most  mangled 
bodies,  before  Dr.  Magrath  entered,  as  he  is  a 
man  of  integrity,  feeling,  candour,  firmness,  and 
unshaken  veracity,  as  well  as  genius  and  skill, 
that  no  favour  or  affection  could  swerve  from  the 
truth.  Shortland  would  therefore  endeavour  to 
conceal  as  much  as  possible  from  him,  as  what- 
ever came  within  his  knowledge,  came  out  with- 
out fear  or  reward,  and  was  much  against 
the  conduct  of  Capt.  Shortland.  On  the  morning. 
of  the  seventh,  as  before  mentioned,  we  ascertain- 
ed by  the  testimony  of  those  persons  whose  names 
are  mentioned  in  the  certificate  to  this  work,  the 
particulars  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  whose 
Hames  have  been  already  mentioned,  the  number 
of  which  «fefiSffiw^itu  at  ion,  were  as  follows. 

Seven  were  killed  dead  in  the  yards,  and  in  the 
prisons.  Six  suffered  amputation  of  a  leg  or  an 
arm.  Thirty-eight  dangerously  wounded  and 
many  supposed  to  be  mortal  by  the  surgeon  of" 
the  depot.  Twelve  slightly  wounded.  The  total 
amount  of  killed  and  wounded  sixty-three.  Among 
these  were  many  mangled  in  the  mosthorrid  man- 
ner, having  received  five,  six,  and  seven  w^ounds 
apiece  from  the  bayonet.  Hundreds  of  the  pris- 
oners very  narrowly  escaped,  having  received 
several  shots  through  the  hats  and  clothes. 


192 

We  have  just  discovered  that  the  soldiers  here 
at  present  are  the  Somersetshire  mihtia  ;  and 
the  garrison  consists  of  fifteen-hundred  soldiers  of 
different  military  classes. 

On  the  evening  of  the  ninth,  the  inquest,  consis- 
ting of  twelve  peasants,  dependants  of  Capt.  Short- 
Ian  J,  delivered  in  this  most  extraordinary  and  un- 
just verdict,  of  Justifiable  Homicide  ;  such  a  ver- 
dict astonished  every  person,  who  was  not  parti- 
ceps  criminis»  This  verdict  seems  to  have  been 
..given  against  evidence ;  a  summary  of  which  on 
both  sides  I  shall  nov/  proceed  to  give  the  reader, 
that  he  may  judge  for  himself.  It  appeared  from 
the  different  witnesses  before  mentioned,  that  the 
hole  made  in  the  wall,  was  unknowm  to  m.ore  than 
three-fourths  of  the  prisoners  confined  in  the  yard 
of  No.  5  and  7,  where  the  hole  was  made,  and  that 
no  combination  had  ever  been  entered  into  by  any 
of  the  prisoners  to  escape ;  it  was  also  proved 
that  the  prisoners  confined  in  the  yards  of  No.  1 , 
3  and  4,  were  totally  ignorant  of  there  being  any 
hole  in  the  w^all.  It  was  proved  that  the  gates 
were  broken  open  by  a  man  in  the  state  of  intoxica- 
tion, and  unknown  to  tlie  piisoncrs,  and  that  wheJi 
broken  open  it  was  in  the  power  of  the  sentery  to 
have  taken  the  offender  and  confined  him  without 
any  resistance  of  the  prisoners.  It  was  also  pro- 
ved that  they  came  running  to  the  gate  out  of  ca- 


1^3 

riositr,  to  learn  the  occasion  of  the  alarm  bells 
ringing  :  that  the  few  persons  (who  were  not  above 
fifty,)  flocked  into  the  s(|uarc,  w^ere  carried  out  of 
the  gates  by  the  numbers  pressing  in  the  rear  to 
gratify  their  curiosity ;  that  no  stones  or  clubs 
were  thrown  while  they  were  in  this  situation  ; 
that  they  all  immediately  retired  into  the  yards 
of  their  respective  prisons,  and  shut  the  gates 
after  them  ;  that  Capt.  Shortland  took  the  imme- 
diate command  of  the  soldiers,  and  ordered  them 
to  fire  on  the  prisoners ;  that  on  firing  the  prison- 
ers made  all  possible  exertion  to  gain  the  inside 
of  t;ic  prison,  but  some  fell  before  they  could  reach 
it ;  that  the  soldiers  pursued  and  fired  into 
the  prisons  and  killed  two  within  the  prison  ;  that 
the  soldiers  on  the  ramparts  singled  out  the  pri- 
soners, and  fired  and  killed  them,  as  they  were 
going  into  the  prisons  ;  that  after  all  the  prisoners 
hod  got  into  the  prisons,  except  some  few,  being 
frightened,  and  not  able  to  get  into  the  prisons, 
ran  for  refuge  close  to  tlie  walls,  and  were  fired 
upon  singly,  and  either  killed  or  wounded  by  seve- 
ral soldiers  firing  at  one.  That  an  officer  of  low 
rank  assisted  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Short- 
land,  in  killing  a  boy,  not  over  thirteen  years  old  I 
that  a  prisoner  applied  to  Capt.  Shortland  to 
forbear,  and  stop  the  horrid  massacre,  as  the  pri- 
soners were  retiring  as  fast  as  possible,  and  that 
R  2 


194 

Capt.  Shortland  answered,    "  retire,  you  damned 
rascal.  Fll  hear  to  nothing."     Ii  was  proved  that 
he  ti^rnkeys,  contrary  to   the  invariable  custom, 
had  been  in  and  locked  all  the  doors  of  each  pri- 
son, except  one  ;  there  being   four  doors  to  each 
prison,  they  had  ever  before  been  left  open,  till  a 
horn  was  sounded,  and  the  turnkeys  cried  "  turn 
in,  turn  in  ;"  but  that  night  no  horn  was  sounded, 
nor  was    there  any  cry  to  turn  in,  but  the  doors 
secretly  locked,    which  much  surprised  the  few 
that  happened  to  see  the  doors  locked,  but  did  not 
suspect  any  mischief  was  about  to  be  done;  that 
this  Vv^as  done  some  time  before  tlic  usual  hour  foi* 
turning  in.     Also,  that  Capt.   Shortland  actually 
took  hold  of  a  musket  with  his  own  hands  in  con- 
junction with  a  soldier,   and  fired  the  first  gun. 
That  the   soldier-ofFicers   were  unwilling  to  give 
any  orders  to  the  soldiers,  or  take  ary  active  part- 
in  the  proceedings. 

From  the  summary  of  the  evidence  above  given, 
on  the  part  of  the  prisoners,  it  must  appear  evi- 
dent to  every  impartial  reader,  that  Capt.  Short- 
land  made  the  attack  with  malice  pi-epense.  But 
•  to  give  the  public  the  fairest  opportunity  to  judge. 
I  shall  give  a  summary  of  the  evidence  on  the 
part  of  Capt.  Shortland,  v/hich  came  all  from  the 
mouth  of  witnesses  particeps  criminis,  and  acting 
with  him.     Those  consisted  of  clerks,  turnkeys, 


195 


and  soldiers,  who  had  been  the  very  instruments 
of  the  massacre.  They  deposed  and  said,  that 
the  prisoners  were  in  a  state  of  mutiny,  and  tliat 
great  numbers  had  threatened  to  escape  by  for- 
cing through  the  walls,  and  that  the  hole  in  the 
wall  was  big  enough  for  a  man  to  pass  through  ; 
that  the  lock  on  the  gate  was  broke  by  some  pri- 
soner, and  that  stones  were  thrown  while  the 
prisoners  were  at  the  gate,  and  also  clubs,  and 
pieces  of  iron  thrown  at  the  guards  by  the  pri- 
soners while  there  ;  that  great  numbers  had  got 
into  the  square,  and  that  they  did  mean  to  make 
their  escape.  Nothing  material  could  be  further 
drawn  fj'om  these  witnesses. 

In  the  evening  of  this  day,  the  bodies  of  our  mur- 
dered countrymen  were  buried  behind  the  prison 
walls  in  the  same  manner  as  before  the  peace, 
without  form  or  ceremony,  and  no  prisoner  per- 
mitted to  attend  to  see  the  last  sad  office,  which 
one  friend  can  perform  for  another  in  giving  the 
grave  its  due.  O  -  Britannia  5  thy  boast  is  gone, 
thy  pride  is  lost,  humanity  is  fled  from  thy  degene- 
rate sons,  and  a  safer  asylum  in  the  bosom  of  the 
savage  tribes,  has  found.  Deny  the  dead'tfeeir 
sacred  due ! 

Thou  ingrate  race,  is  this  the  reward  due  to 
men  who  have  laboured  many  years  thy  faithful 
servant,  and  now  after  having  dragged  out  a  paiHi' 


i9a 


fal  imprisonment  for  two  years,  ajid  the  momeftt 
the  hope  of  returning  had  rekindled  the  sparks  off 
life,  must  be  massacred  in  a  most  barbarous  man- 
ner, and  denied  the  right  of  the  grave  ? 

I  must  here  relate  one  instance  which  occurred 
a  few  years  ago,  and  which  goes  very  far  to  show 
the  inhumanity  of  those  who  have  had  the  com- 
mand of  this  depot  heretofore.  In  a  manuscript 
which  was  left  liere  by  the  French  prisoners, 
whicn  I  was  this  evening  perusing,  I  find  the 
following  remarlcabie  circumstance  of  cruelty  re- 
lated, v/n;ch  took  place  during  their  confinement. 

Captain  Cotgrave  being  ai/eiit,  and  Dr.  Decker 
head  surgeon  of  the  Hospital,  m  December,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  nine,  a  most  malignant 
and  contagious  disease,  bearing  the  most  frightful 
and  mortal  symptoms,  broke  out  among  the  French 
prisoners,  which  in  the  short  space  of  one  month 
carried  ofi'  more  than  eight  hundred. 

This  unfeeling  man.  Dr.  Decker,  caused  the 
coffins  to  be  brought  into  the  rooms  of  the  Hospi- 
t:il,  to  receive  the  bodies  :  where  they  often  re- 
mained several  days  in  readiness  to  receive  tlie 
unhappy  man  fast  approaching  the  end  of  all  his 
sufferings. 

It  is  said  in  the  manuscript,  that  this  w^orse  than 
barbarian,  would  gaze  with  the  greatest  satisfac- 
tion on  the  surrounding  victims,  that  he  might  dis " 


197 

eover  from  the  very  inmost  recesses  of  the  heart, 
what  effect  the  appearance  of  these  coiTins  had  on 
their  exhausted  spirits. 

However  unfeehng  this  might  be,  yet  their  lot 
was  envied  by  hundreds  cf  their  countrymen,  who 
were  left  to  perish  in  the  prison  without  any  as- 
sistance, without  a  friend,  and  in  want  of  every 
thing;  and  would  not  be  received  into  the  Hospi- 
tal by  this  unfeeling  man. 

Their  extreme  sulTerings  would  have  moved  the 
heart  even  of  a  cannibal,  and  it  is  a  solitary  in- 
btance  of  cruelty,  that  any  one  belonging  to  a  civi- 
lized nation  could  rejoice  at  such  a  mournful  spec- 
tacle, and  exult  over  their  fellow-beings  in  the  ago- 
nies of  death,  as  did  this  man  often  in  saying  the 
more  deaths  the  fewer  enemies. 

Another  circumstance  is  related  in  the  same  ma- 
nuscript, in  which  Capt.  Isaac  Cotgrave  was  the 
principal  actor. 

On  the  eighth  of  October,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  nine,  the  turnkeys,  by  mistake,  had 
left  one  of  the  prison  doors  unlocked,  which  be- 
ing discovered  by  some  of  the  prisoners,  they  de- 
termined if  possible  to  effect  an  escape  ;  they  got 
into  the  yard,  but  unfortunately  were  discovered 
the  very  moment  they  came  out,  by  one  of  the 
senteries,  who  gave  the  alarm,  and  instantly  a  vol- 
ley of  sixty  muskets  was   discharged   at  ihejn  : 


198 


numbers  were  wounded,  but  none  killed  ;  they  ilieu 
hastily  retired  into  the  prison. 

Capt.  Cotgravc,  the  agent,  then  entered  the 
yard  at  the  head  of  a  large  body  of  troops,  and 
after  searching  the  yard  in  every  direction,  and 
discovering  nobody,  he  was  retiring,  when  they 
discovered  a  lAan  creeping  along  the  wall  ;  the 
blood-thirsty  monsters  instantly  fell  upon  the  un- 
happy victim,  and  would  neither  listen  to  his  cries 
nor  prayers,  but  before  he  could  make  himself 
known  to  them,  several  musket-balls  had  pierced 
his  vital  parts,  and  laid  him  lifeless  on  the  ground  ; 
but  they  were  not  content  with  this  ;  they  ran  up 
to  him,  and  ran  over  and  over  his  lifeless  corpse, 
•stabbing  it  with  their  bayonets  in  many  places  ; 
after  having  satiated  their  ferocity,  on  inspecting 
the  body,  they  found  it  to  be  one  of  their  own  men, 
whom  the  darkness  of  the  night  had  prevented 
them  from  distinguishing. 

In  memory  of  this  horrid  act,  the  French  priso- 
ners raised  a  monument  on  the  very  spot  where  it 
was  committed ;  but  the  keepers  of  the  prison  had 
it  destroyed  the  same  day,  for  it  was  a  monumeiit 
of  their  cruelty. 


199 


THE  REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  OF 
PRISOJ^ERS, 

Wc,  the  undersigned,  being  each  severally  sworn 
on  the  holy  evangelists  of  the  Almighty  God,  for 
the  investigation  of  the  circumstances  attending 
the  late  horrid  massacre,  and  having  heard  the 
depositions  of  a  great  number  of  witnesses  :  from 
our  own  personal  knowledge,  and  from  the  depo- 
sitions given  in  as  aforesaid, 

REPORT  AS  FOLLOWS  : 

That  on  the  6th  of  April,  about  6  o'clock  in  the 
''vening,  when  the  prisoners  were  all  quiet  in  their 
respective  yards,  it  being  about  the  usual  time  of 
turning  in  for  the  night,  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
prisoners  being  then  in  the  prisons,  the  alarm  bell 
was  rung,  and  many  of  the  prisoners  ran  up  to 
the  Market-square  to  learn  the  occasion  of  the 
alarm.  There  were  then  drawn  up  in  the  Square, 
several  hundred  soldiers,  with  Captain  Shortland 
[the  Agent]  at  their  head  ;  it  was  likewise  obser- 
ved at  the  same  time,  that  additional  numbers  of 
soldiers  were  posting  themselves  on  the  walls 
round  the  prison  yards.  One  of  them  observed  to 
the  prisoners,  that  they  had  better  go  into  the 
prisons,  for  they  would  be  charged  upon  directly. 


200 

This,  of  course,  occasioned  considerable  alarm 
among  them.  In  this  moment  of  uncertainty,  they 
were  running  in  different  directions'  inquiring  the 
cause  of  the  alarm — some  toward  their  respective 
prisons,  and  some  toward  the  Market- square. — 
When  about  one  hundred  were  collected  in  the 
Square,  Captain  Shortland  ordered  the  soldiers  to 
charge  upon  them,  which  order  the  soldiers  were 
reluctant  in  obeying,  as  the  prisoners  were  using 
no  violence  ;  but  on  the  order  being  repeated, 
they  made  a  charge,  and  the  prisoners  retreated 
out  of  the  Square  inito  the  prison-yards,  and  shut 
the  gates  after  them/  Captain  Shortland,  himself, 
opened  the  gates,  and  ordered  the  soldiers  to  fire 
in  among  the  prisoners,  who  were  all  retreating  in 
different  directions  towards  their  respective  pris- 
ons. It  appears  there  was  some  hesitation  in  the 
minds  of  the  officers,  vrhether  or  not  it  was  proper 
to  fire  upon  the  prisoners  in  that  situation  ;  on 
which  Shortland  seized  a  musket  out  of  the  hands 
of  a  soldier,  which  he  fired.  Immediately  after, 
the  fire  became  general,  and  many  of  the  prisoners 
v/ere  either  killed  or  wounded.  The  remainder 
were  endeavouring  to  get  into  the  prisons,  when 
p-oinp-  towards  the  lov/er  doors,  the  soldiers  on  the 
walls  commenced  firing  on  them  from  that  quarter, 
which  kilkd  some  and  wounded  others.  After 
much  difticulty,   [all  the  doors  being  closed  in  the 


201 

entrance,  but  one  in  each  prison]  the  snrvivort 
succeeded  in  gaining  the  prisons  ;  immediately  af- 
ter which,  parties  of  soldiers  came  to  tlie  doors  of 
Nos.  3  and  4  prisons,  and  fired  several  vollies  into 
them  through  the  windows  and  doors,  which  killed 
one  man  in  each  prison,  and  severely  wounded 
others. 

It  likewise  appears,  that  the  preceding  butchery 
was  followed  up  with  a  disposition  of  peculiar  in- 
veteracy and  barbarity. 

One  man  who  was  severely  wounded  in  No.  7 
prison-yard,  and  being  unable  to  make  his  way  to 
the  prison,  was  come  up  with  by  the  soldiers, 
whom,  he  implored  for  mercy,  but  in  vain ;  five  of 
the  hardened  wretches  immediately  levelled  their 
pieces  at  him,  and  shot  him  dead  on  the  spot. — 
The  soldiers  who  were  posted  on  the  walls,  mani- 
fested equal  cruelty,  by  keeping  up  a  constant  fire 
on  every  prisoner  they  could  see  in  the  yards  en- 
deavouring to  get  in  the  prison,  when  their  num- 
bers were  very  few,  and  when  not  the  least  shadow 
of  resistance  could  be  made  or  expected.  Several 
of  them  had  got  into  No.  6  prison  cook-house, 
which  was  pointed  out  by  the  soldiers  on  the  walls, 
to  those  who  were  marching  in  from  the  Square ; 
they  immediately  went  up  and  fired  into  the  same, 
which  wounded  several  ;  one  of  the  prisoners  ran 

S 


202 

®ut  with  the  intention  of  gaining  his  prison,  but  was 
killed  before  he  reached  the  door. 

On  an  impartial  consideration  of  the  circum- 
stances of  the  case,  we  are  induced  to  believe  that 
it  was  a  premeditated  scheme  in  the  mind  of  Cap- 
lain  Shortland,  for  reasons  which  we  will  now  pro- 
ceed to  give — as  an  illiicidation  of  its  origin,  we 
will  recur  back  to  an  event  which  happened  some 
days  previous.  Captain  Shortland  was,  at  the 
time,  absent  at  Plymouth,  but  before  going  he  or- 
dered the  contractor  or  his  clerk  to  serve  out  one 
pound  of  indifferent  hard  bread,  instead  of  one 
pound  and  an  half  of  soft  bread,  their  usual  al- 
lowance— this  the  prisoners  refused  to  receive — 
they  waited  all  day  in  expectation  of  their  usual 
allowance  being  served  out ;  but  at  sunset,  finding 
this  would  not  be  the  case,  burst  open  the  lower 
gates,  and  went  up  to  the  store,  demanding  to  have 
their  bread. 

The  officers  of  the  garrison,  on  being  alarmed, 
and  informed  of  their  proceedings,  observed,  that 
it  Vt  as  no  more  than  right  the  prisoners  should  have 
their  usual  allowance,  and  strongly  reprobated  the 
conduct  of  Captain  Shortland  in  withholding  it 
from  them.  They  were  accordingly  serv^ed  with 
their  bread,  and  quietly  returned  to  their  prison. 
This   circumstance,   with  the  censures  that  were 


I 


203 

thrown  on  his  conduct,  reached  the  ears  of  Short- 
land  on  his  return  home,  and  he  must  then  have  de- 
termined on  the  diabohcal  plan  of  seizing  the  first 
shght  pretext  to  turn  in  the  military,  to  butcher 
the  prisoners  lor  the  gratification  of  his  malice  and 
revenge.  It  unibrtunately  happened,  that  in  the 
;\fternoon  of  the  6th  of  A|)rll,  some  boys  who  were 
playing  ball  in  No.  7  yard,  knocked  their  ball  over 
into  the  Barrack-yard,  and  on  the  sentery  in  that 
yard  refusing  to  throw  it  back  to  them,  they  picked 
a  hole  in  the  wall  to  get  in  after  it. 

This  aftbrdcd  Shortland  his  wished  for  pretext, 
and  he  took  his  measures  accordingly ;  he  had  all 
the  garrison  drawn  up  in  the  military  vvalk,  addi- 
tional numbers  posted  on  the  walls,  and  every  thing 
ready  prepared  before  the  alarm  bell  was  rung  ^ 
this,  he  naturally  concluded,  would  draw  the  atten- 
tion of  a  great  number  of  prisoners  towards  the 
gates,  to  learn  the  cause  of  the  alarm,  while  the 
turnkeys  were  despatched  into  the  yards,  to  lock 
all  the  doors  but  one  of  each  prison,  to  prevent 
the  prisoners  retreating  out  of  the  way  before  h^ 
had  sufficiently  wreaked  his  vengeance. 

What  adds  peculiar  w^cight  to  the  belief  of  its 
being  a  premeditated,  determined  massacre,  are, 

First — The  sanguinary  disposition  manifested 
on  evciT  occasion  by  Shortland,  he  having,  prior 


204 

to  this  time,  ordered  the  soldiers  to  fire  into  the 
prisons,  through  the  prison  windows,  upon  unarm- 
ed prisoners  asleep  in  their  hammocks,  on  account 
©f  a  light  being  seen  in  the  [>risons  ;  which  barba- 
rous act  was  repeated  several  nights  successively. 
That  murder  was  not  then  committed,  was  owing 
to  an  over-ruling  Providence  alone  ;  for  the  balls 
were  picked  up  in  the  prison,  where  they  passed 
through  the  hammocks  of  men  then  asleep  in  them. 
He  having  also  ordered  the  soldiers  to  fire  upon 
the  prisoners  in  the  yard  of  No.  7  prison,  because- 
they  would  not  deliver  up  to  him  a  man  w^ho  had 
escaped  from  the  cachot,  which  order  the  com- 
manding officer  of  the  soldiers  refused  to  obey  ; 
and  generally,  he  having  seized  on  every  slight 
pretext  to  injure  the  prisoners,  by  stopping  their 
marketing  for  ten  days  repeatedly,  and  once  a  third 
part  of  their  provisions  for  the  same  length  of 
time. 

Secondly — He  having  been  heard  to  say,  when 
the  boys  had  picked  the  hole  in  the  wall,  and  some 
time  before  the  alarm  bell  rung,  while  all  the  priso- 
ners were  quiet  as  usual  in  their  respective  yards, 
^'  Pll  fix  the  damrCd  rascals  directly .'''' 

Thirdly — His  having  all  the  soldiers  on  their 
posts,  and  the  garrison  fully  prepared  before  the 


20^ 


alarm  bell  rung.  It  could  not  then,  of  course,  bt 
rung  to  assemble  the  soldiers,  but  to  alarm  the 
prisoners,  and  create  confusion  among  them. 

Fourthly — The  soldiers  upon  the  wall,  previous 
to  the  alarm  bell  being  rung,  informing  the  priso- 
ners that  they  would  be  charged  upon  directly. 

Fifthly — The  turnkeys  going  into  the  yards  and 
closing  all  the  doors  but  one  in  each  prison,  while 
the  attention  of  the  prisoners  was  attracted  by  the 
alarm  bell.  This  was  done  about  fifteen  minutes 
sooner  than  usual,  and  without  informing  the  priso- 
ners it  was  time  to  shut  up.  It  was  ever  the  in- 
variable practice  of  the  turnkeys,  from  which  they 
never  deviated  before  that  night,  when  coming  in- 
to the  yard  to  shut  up,  to  hollow  to  the  prisoners 
so  loud  as  to  be  heard  throughout  the  yards,  "  turn 
in,,  turn  in!"  but,  on  that  night,  it  was  done  so 
secretly,  that  not  one  man  in  a  hundred  knew  they 
were  shut ;  and  in  particular  their  shutting  the 
door  of  No.  7  prison,  which  the  prisoners  usually 
went  in  and  out  at,  [and  which  was  formerly  always 
closed  last]  and  leaving  one  open  in  the  other  end 
of  the  prison,  which  was  exposed  to  a  cross-fire 
from  the  soldiers  on  the  walls,  and  which  the  priso* 
ners  had  to  pass  in  gaining  the  prisons. 

S  2 


S06 

We  here  solemnly  aver,  that  there  was  no  pre- 
concerted plan  to  attempt  breakmg  out.  There 
cannot  be  produced  the  least  shadow  of  a  reason 
or  inducement  for  that  intention,  the  prisoners  dai- 
ly expecting  to  be  released,  and  to  embark  on 
board  cartels  for  their  native  country.  And  we 
likewise  solemnly  assert,  that  there  was  no  inten- 
tion of  resisting,  in  any  manner,  the  authority  of 
this  depot. 

N.  B.  Seven  were  killed,  thirty  dangerously 
wounded,  and  thirty  slightly  do.  Total,  sixty- 
ievcn  killed  and  wounded. 

(Signed) 

WU.  B.  ORNE. 
WM.  HOBART, 
JAMES  BOGGS, 
JAMES  ADAMS, 
FRANCIS  JOSEPH, 
JOHN  F.  TROBRIDGE, 
JOHN  RUST, 
HENRY  ALLEN, 
WALTER  COLTON, 
THOMAS   B.  MOTT, 


Committee. 


Bartmoor  Prison,  April  7 tk.  1815. 


207 

i» 
The  same  day  Mr.  Ingraham  came  to  the  prison 

and  informed  the  prisoners,  that  he  had  come  for 

the  purpose  of  shipping  a  number  of  men,  to  maa 

ships  now  lying  in  different  ports  in  Europe  ;  he 

also  informed  us,  thnt  he  had  been  appointed  agent, 

under  the  consular  agent  of  the   United  States  • 

'■nd  that  every  preparation  was  making  for  the 

.mmediate  release  of  every  prisoner,  and  we  might 

be  assured  of  the  immediate   arrival  of  the  ships 

trom  London  to  convey  us  to  the  United  States. 

On  the  tenth,  a  number  were  discharged  to  man 
different  ships  in  Europe  ;  this  day  arrangements 
were  made  by  the  prisoners,  fcr  tl  e  assistriice  Cind 
relief  of  our  wounded  countrymen  in  the  llojiital, 
and  also  an  arrangement  for  the  prisoners  to  wear 
rrape  on  their  arm,  for  thirty  days  after  their  ar. 
rival  in  America,  as  a  tribute  of  respect  due  to 
their  departed  friends  •  and  fellow-prisoners. — 
The  wounded  in  the  Hospital  were  paid  every  at- 
tention, for  their  comfort  and  speedy  recovery,  by 
Doctor  Magrath. 

We  received  no  letters  from  Mr.  Beasley,  al- 
though hundreds  of  letters  had  been  sent  to  him 
since  the  melancholy  event  of  the  6th.  Reports 
were  circulating  that  a  nevv-  agent  was  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  U.  States  to  supersede  Mr.  Beas- 
ley, which  every  man  most  anxiously  wished 
might  be  true,  but  had  not  the  satisfaction  to  learn 


208 

it  was  the  case  ;  every  day's  delay  made  more 
confusion  and  anxiety  among  the  prisoners.  The 
weather  during  this  month  up  to  the  present  day, 
had  been  remarkable  fine,  pure  and  healthy,  and 
more  so  than  it  had  been  at  this  place  since  our 
confinement ;  as  if  the  All-Seeing  eye  of  Heaven 
looked  down  with  pity  and  compassion  upon  our 
injured  and  wounded  countrymen,  and  dispensed 
His  blessings  for  their  speedy  recovery  in  the 
salubrity  of  his  air.  That  passage  in  Holy  Writ, 
in  this  instance  seemed  to  be  remarkably  verified, 
"  that  when  the  prisoner  was  sick  in  prison,  he 
visited  him." 

Capt.  Shortland,  after  being  acquitted,  resum- 
ed the  command  of  the  depot,  but  he  was  seldom 
seen  by  the  prisoners,  being  very  apprehensive 
that  the  prisoners  would  shoot  him  the  first  oppor- 
tunity ;  therefore  he  kept  a  body  guard  about  him, 
and  this  day  a  draft  of  thirty  prisoners  being  dis- 
charged, and  having  to  pass  by  his  house,  he  had 
his  guard  stationed  at  his  door. 

On  the  morning  of  the  twelfth,  we  were  inform- 
ed by  Capt.  Shortland  that  the  drafts  for  the  dis- 
charge of  the  prisoners  were  already  made  out, 
and  that  the  draft  for  the  first  cartel  would  con- 
sist of  280,  to  be  discharged  as  they  entered  this 
depot.     1  therefore  obtained  the  exact  number  of 


209 


# 

prisoners  then  in  each  prison,  which  I  shall  give 

as  follows  : 

Prison  No.  1 ,  contained 

1290 

3,         -         -         -         - 

952 

4,         ...         - 

978 

6,         -         -         -         - 

938 

7,         -         .         .         - 

1248 

fn  different  employments  about  the 

stores  and  hospital, 

-        29 

Patients  in  the  hospital, 

107 

Total  number  of  unparoled  prison- 

ers in  England, 

5542 

In  visiting  the  hospitals,  I  found  the  wounded 
jerisoners  fast  recovering,  all  in  high  spirits,  the 
prison  generally  more  healthy  than  it  had  been 
since  our  arrival  at  it.  Capt.  Shortland  removed 
his  family  from  this  place,  for  his  guilt  had  brought 
upon  him  the  apprehension  of  the  first  draft's  re- 
taliating upon  him  by  attacking  his  family  ;  but 
no  such  idea  had  entered  the  imagination  of  any 
prisoner ;  it  was  the  creature  of  his  own  guilt. 

We  were  ordered  at  this  time  to  be  in  readiness 
to  deliver  up  every  article,  which  we  had  receiv- 
ed from  the  British  Government ;  such  as  beds, 
hammocks,  blankets,  &c,  &:c.  These  articles  had 
been  in  our  possession,  and  in  constant  use  ever 
since  the  second  of  April,  1813,  and  had  never 
been  changed  j  we  felt  but  little  reluctance  in  de- 


210 

» 

iivering  them  up,  when  aQiniated  with  the  idea  of 
once  more  revisiting  our  nat:\  c  country,  and  leav- 
ing a  dreary  prison,  which  many  of  us  had  inhabi- 
ted upwards  of  two  years. 

On  the  following  day  we  received  a  London  pa- 
per uhich  contained  the  following  account  of  the 
late  horrid  massacre  at  this  depot ;  it  read  as 
follows  : 

"  An  affair  of  a  serious  nature  has  recently  ta- 
ken place  at  Dartmoor  prison :  the  prisoners  at- 
taching the  greater  part  of  the  fault  of  their  long 
detention  since  the  peace  to  Mr,  Beasley,  their 
country's  agent,  resident  at  London,  had,  before 
the  affray,  burnt  his  person  in  effigy  in  the  yard 
of  their  prison;  on  account  of  which.  Captain 
Shortland,  unarmed  and  unattended,  entered  the 
yard  of  their  prison  with  a  view  to  appease  the 
anger  of  these  unfortunate  men  ;  but  his  recep- 
tion was  attended  with  the  prisoners  discharging  a 
pistol  at  him.  the  contents  of  which  grazed  his 
clerk  ;  upon  tms  the  prisoners  attempted  to  gain 
their  liberty  by  rushing  out  of  the  gates,  but  were 
soon  coiled  by  the  guards  firing  upon  them,  and 
killing  twelve,  and  wounding  thirty." 

The  account  was  equally  base  and  false,  as  the 
act  was  cruel  and  murderous  ;  but  the  mention  of 
twelve  killed,  confirmed  the  prisoners  in  their  be- 
icf  that  this  number  had  been  killed,  and  the  five. 


211 

which  •^^'ere  not  to  be  found,  Avcre  secretly  buried 
by  Capt.  Shortland  that  night,  and  that  he,  in  the 
guilty  and  confused  state  of  his  mind,  had  given 
an  account  of  twelve,  instead  of  seven,  which 
were  the  only  ones  found  of  the  killed.  I  leave 
it  to  the  reader  to  judge,  whether  nature  or  habit 
had  done  most  towards  hardening  the  feelings  of 
this  man.  It  is  well  known  that  men  accustomed 
to  the  sufferings  and  misery  of  their  fellow  beings, 
-oon  grow  hardened  and  forget  them.  But  could 
iliis  man,  from  the  short  time  here,  have  grown 
so  callous  in  his  feelings  as  to  commit  such  acts 
from  habit,  or  must  cruelty  and  malice  have  been 
woven  in  his  constitution  ? 

On  this  day,  the  prisoners  in  making  prepara- 
tion for  their  departure,  prepared  a  large  white 
(lag,  and  as  a  memento,  had,  in  the  middle  of  rt, 
the  representation  of  a  tomb,  with  the  Goddess  of 
Liberty  leaning  on  it,  and  a  murdered  sailor  1\  ing 
by  its  side,  and  an  inscription  over  it  in  large  capi- 
tal letters,  '^Columbia  weeps,  and  we  remember.^'* 
This  flag  was  intended  to  be  carried  home  to  the 
U.  States,  as  it  showed  a  just  resentment  for  the 
execrable  deeds  which  it  recorded,  and  a  just  re- 
spect for  the  sufferers.  This  same  day,  numbers 
of  prisoners  were  released  by  application  of  their 
friends  in  England,  for  the  jiurpose  of  manning 
ships  in  different  ports.     We  had  no  news  from 


211 

Mr.  Beasley,  and  most  of  the  prisoners  barefoot- 
ed, the  oldest  in  a  state  of  nudity,  not  having  re- 
ceived any  jackets  or  trowsers  for  more  than 
eleven  months. 

At  length,  when  we  were  almost  dead  v/ith  im- 
patience and  delay,  on  the  fourteenth  we  received 
a  letter  from  Mr.  Beasley  to  the  following  effect : 
"  Fellow  Citizens, 

"  I  have  been  informed  that  numbers  of  the 
prisoners  have  entertained  an  idea,  that  they  are 
to  remain  in  prison,  until  the  arrival  of  some  U. 
States'  ships  in  this  country ;  but  1  can  assure 
them  that  there  is  no  foundation  for  the  behef ; 
and  I  can  assure  them  of  eight  cartels  being  al- 
ready taken  up  for  their  conveyance  to  the  Uni- 
ted iStates.  And  with  regret  I  hear  from  officers 
who  were  sent  to  inquire  into  the  shameful  con- 
duct of  the  sixth  of  April,  that  the  extravagant 
excess  of  the  prisoners  was  partly  occasioned  by 
their  censuring  the  U.  States  and  myself  I" 

Mr.  Beasley  had,  no  doubt,  been  informed  of 
what  he  v/ rote,  but  it  was  not  the  fact,  for  his  infor- 
mation, no  doubt,  came  from  the  two  officers  who 
were  here,  the  Admiral  and  his  associate  ;  but  no 
such  conversation  took  place  in  their  hearing 
which  rmmbers  of  the  most  respectable  prisoners 
can  testify,  and  no  such  idea  had  been  entertained 
by  any  prisoner  in  the  prison.     These  officers  in 


21B 

tended  that  Mr.  Beasley  should  bear  all  the 
blame.  God  knows  his  conduct  was  blameable 
enough  throughout ;  but  to  do  him  justice,  he  had 
no  blame  in  the  murderous  act  of  the  fatal  sixth 
of  April.  His  eliigy  had  been  burnt  on  the  24th 
of  March,  and  all  animosity  had  been  dissipated 
with  the  ashes  of  his  eliigy,  and  his  name  seemed 
to  be  forgotten,  for  it  was  scarcely  ever  mention- 
ed. Mr.  Beasley  had  had  every  particular  of  the 
event,  before  his  interview  with  the  OiTicers,  but 
made  no  exertions  as  yet  to  inquire  into  the  af- 
fray. 

The  weather  up  to  this  day  since  the  month  be- 
gan, had  been  remarkably  line  for  this  place,  but 
this  morning  the  moor  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach,  was  covered  with  snow,  and  continued  to 
snow  all  day,  and  the  weather  very  cold. 

On  the  sixteenth  we  received  letters  from  Lou- 
don, from  many  of  our  fellow  citizens,  who  had 
received  passports  and  left  the  prisoa  since  the 
f'tal  sixth  of  April  •,  on  their  arrival  in  London, 
iliey  were  taken  before  ihe  lord  mayor  of  that  city 
rfud  their  depositions  taken  relative  to  the  massacre 
of  the  sixth,  which  was  to  the  same  purpoit  as  be- 
fore the  committee.  On  the  same  day,  Col.  Haw- 
ker, formerly  consular  agent,  under  the  American 
consul  at  London,  visited  the  prison  for  the  pur- 
pose of  shipping  seamen  to  man  ships  at  Plymouth* 
T 


214 

bound  to  New-Orleans.  In  this  way  the  pri- 
soners were  daily  diminishing  in  number,  as  any 
one  might  obtain  a  passport  who  could  procure  a 
friend  to  make  application  for  their  release,  and 
informing  Mr.  Beasley  that  they  required  no  assis- 
tance from  him  to  convey  them  to  the  United 
States.  In  obtaining  a  passport  in  this  way  from 
Capt.  Shortland,  they  needed  no  other  protection 
in  this  country. 

This  day  a  man  was  committed  to  the  cachot 
for  drawing  money  from  Col.  Hawker  in  an  as- 
sumed name.  The  colonel  was  determined  to 
have  him  brought  to  condign  punishment:  this  man 
the  next  day  was  taken  out  of  the  cachot  and  con- 
veyed to  Exeter,  to  be  tried  at  the  next  August 
assizes. 

On  visiting  the  hospital,  I  found  the  v/ounded 
r  id  the  sick  fast  recovering,  and  had  every  atten- 
tion paid  them  by  Dr.  Magrath,  for  their  health 
and  comfort,  that  his  rcsoui'ces  would  allovr. 

On  the  seventeenth,  a  black  man  belonging  to 
No.  4  was  found  dead  in  his  hammock.  On  this 
day  we  received  another  letter  from  Mr.  Beasley, 
which  informed  us  that  those  oflicers  that  had  visi- 
ted the  prison  by  order  of  the  British  government, 
had  represented  the  conduct  of  the  prisoners  on 
the  sixth  of  April,  in  a  very  unfavourable  light, 
hut  having  received  a  correct  statement  from  the 


215 

prison,  and  a  general  summary  of  the  evidence  ou 
both  sides  as  delivered  in  to  the  jury  of  inquest  j 
he  now  apologized  for  his  last  letter. 

On  the  nineteenth,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, an  express  arrived  informing  Capt.  Short- 
land  that  one  cartel  had  arrived  at  Plymouth,  and 
ordered  him  immediately  to  remove  two-hundred 
and  forty-nine  prisoners  from  this  depot  to  that 
place,  for  embarking  on  board  the  ship.  At  five 
in  tlie  aftenioon,  the  whole  draft  w^as  collected  in 
the  square,  with  all  their  baggage.  This  was  the 
first  draft  of  prisoners  that  had  entered  the  prison 
after  thc^  declaration  of  war,  and  had  been  im- 
mured within  these  gloomy  walls  more  than  two 
long  and  tedious  years.  They  were  then  infor- 
med that  one  baggage  v/agon  would  be  allowed 
to  every  hundred  men,  for  the  conveyance  of  their 
baggage  to  Plymouth. 

The  ])risoners  being  the  greater  part  bare- 
footed, made  inquiry  whether  any  arrangement 
had  been  made  by  Mr.  Beasley  for  providing 
the;n  with  shoes  and  clothes,  as  they  were  much 
in  vrant  of  them;  but  were  much  surprised  and 
disappointed  when  they  found  no  provision  had 
been  made.  The  money  due  from  government 
had  run  over  the  usual  time  of  payment,  now  twen- 
ty-five days,  although  application  had  previously 
been  made  for  the  payment  of  the  daily  allowance, 
^rA  also,  the  other  articles,  both  by  the  prisoners 


210 

and  Capt.  Shortland  himself;  but  Mr.  Beasley  stiU 
neglected  to  make  any  arrangement  for  either. 

At  six  every  prisoner''s  name  was  called,  and 
they  committed  together  Vvith  their  baggage  to  a 
separate  prison,  ready  for  their  departure  the 
next  morning.  The  joy  they  felt  on  this  occasion 
is  better  imagined  than  described ;  T  therefore 
leave  to  the  imagination  of  the  reader,  what  emo- 
tions the  heart  must  feel,  when  a  change  which 
promised  every  endearment  of  life  to  them,  and 
freed  them  from  every  evil  of  it,  was  about  to 
take  place. 

I  visited  the  hospital  this  evening  for  the  last 
time,  and  had  the  pleasing  satisfaction  of  finding 
the  sick  and  wounded  in  a  state  of  fast  recovery, 
except  a  few  who  were  dangerous. 

The  next  morning  we  took  our  departure  for 
Plymouth,  and  v/ith  joy  in  our  hearts  bid  farewell 
to  that  pale  of  misery,  and  at  four  in  the  afternoon 
arrived  at  Plymouth,  having  travelled  all  the  way 
under  the  direction  of  a  strong  guard. 

We  were  immediately  embarked  on  board  the 
cartel  Maria  Christiana,  a  Swedish  ship,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Dirkes  ;  we  found  some  few  of 
©ur  countrymen  who  had  been  on  parole,  on  board 
the  ship. 

It  was  now  just  forty  days  since  the  arrival  ol 
the  ratified  treaty  in  ii*iigidnJ» 


217 


The  next  clay  eight  of  the  prisoners  left  the  car- 
tel to  join  a  brig  under  French  colours  bound  for 
France. 

On  the  twenty-second  the  wind  being  contrary, 
the  prisoners  were  permitted  to  go  on  shore  and 
spend  the  day.  A  court  of  inquiry  had  been  in- 
stituted by  commissioners  appointed  by  both  go- 
vernmenlSj  for  the  investigation  of  the  unfortunate 
occurrences  of  the  sixth  of  April,  and  was  then  sit- 
ting for  that  purpose.  Several  of  the  prisoners 
were  called  upon  to  give  evidence  in  the  cause,  and 
their  depositions  taken  by  the  court  that  day. 

The  court  was  attended  by  Mr.  Williams,  depu- 
ty consular  agent  to  Mr.  Beasley. 

Before  wc  set  sail  Mr.  Williams  informed  us  that 
he  was  instructed  by  Mr.  Beasley  to  take  down  all 
the  particulars  of  the  investigation,  for  the  purpose 
of  laying  them  before  the  American  government ; 
but  the  commissioners  had  not  reported  when  we 
left  Plymouth,  but  it  was  expected  they  would  in  a 
few  days,  wliich  shall  contain  a  part  of  this  work 
as  soon  as  it  is  received. 

Mr.  Williams  informed  us  that  the  money  allow- 
ed by  government,  which  had  been  due  thirty  days, 
would  not  be  paid  by  Mr.  Beasley,  nor  would  any 
provision  be  made  by  him  for  shoes  or  clothing, 
but  that  the  prisoners  must  go  home  as  they  were. 
T  2 


218 


On  the  twentv-tbird,  the  wind  being  favourable, 
wc  ^ove  short,  and  made  preparations  forsa-'ling. 

On  musterins;  the  prisoners,  we  found  their  num- ' 
ber  amounted  to  two  hundred  and  sixty-three  ;  this 
increase  of  number  was  by  officers  paroled  at  Ash- 
burton. 

At  three  in  the  afternoon,  we  left  the  port  of 
Plymouth,  with  a  fresh  and  favourable  wind. 

We  had  left  behind  at  Dartmoor  five  thousand 
®ne  hundred  and  ninety  three  of  our  fellow  priso- 
ners, whom  the  agent  informed  us  would  be  con- 
veyed to  this  place  in  the  same  manner  as  our- 
selves in  a  few  days,  as  the  other  cartels  were  on 
their  way  round  to  Plymouth,  and  thence  to  em- 
'bark  immediately  for  the  United  States.  Alter 
leaving  Plymouth  we  found  the  provisions  under 
the  direction  of  Capt.  Turner,  appointed  by  the 
agent  to  deal  out  the  rations  to  the  prisoners. 

We  were  allowed,  five  days  in  the  week,  one 
pound  of  salt  beef,  one  pound  of  bread,  half  a 
pound  of  potatoes  a  day  ;  the  other  two  days  one 
pound  of  pork,  the  same  quantity  of  bread,  and 
half  a  pint  of  peas  per  man^  and  half  a  pint  of  vine- 
|;ar  a  week. 

Mr.  Beasley  had  made  arrangements  for  each 
prisoner  to  have  a  small  bed  and  blanket ;  the 
cartel  was  equipped  according  to  custom,  with 
great  ^uus  and  small  arms. 


219 

A  Physician  had  been  appointed  with  a  suffi- 
cient quantity  of  medicine  to  serve  during  the  pas- 
sage. 

One  part  of  the  ship  was  allotted  to  the  sicI^'5 
where  every  attention  was  paid  them  by  their 
Gountrymen  for  their  comfort  and  conveiiicnce. 

During  the  residue  of  the  month  nothing  mate- 
rial occurred ;  the  cartel  quite  healthy,  only  {ive 
ca,^es  of  sick,  and  them  not  very  dangerous  ;  the 
month  ended  uith  winds,  light  and  unfavourable. 

On  the  first  of  Miiy  we  were  in  lat.  45°  North, 
and  longitude  23°  4 1 '  "IVest.  On  the  second,  being 
in  long.  24°,  we  spoiic  a  brig  from  London  bound 
to  vQucbec. 

From  the  first  to  the  fourteenth  the  winds  were 
fi  om  N.  W.  to  S.  W.  and  the  cartel  kept  betweeiit 
the  latitudes  of  42°  and  44°  North. 

Some  few  sick,  but  not  dangerously.  On  thi^ 
d-^-y  we  discovered  a  sail  on  our  weather  beam, 
standing  to  the  eastward  ;  at  2  P.  M.  she  bore  up 
P  aiid  stood  for  the  cartel,  with  a  Britibh  flag  flying  j 
'  at  four  we  spoke  her  in  lat.  42,  and  long.  38. 
She  proved  to  be  a  British  transport  with  a  num- 
ber of  troops  from  Mobile,  bound  to  England,  and 
fourteen  days  from  Bermuda.  She  sent  her  boat 
along-side  the  cartel  with  a  naval  and  military  of- 
ficer, and  the  captain  of  the  transport;  they  came  on 
board  the  cartel  and  remained  for  an  hour,  and  theR 


220 

r^tu'^ne'^  to  the  transport,  and  each  ship  marie  sail 
for  their  lestmed  places. 

The  winds  still  continued  the  same  way  the 
twenty-eighth.  This  day,  Sunday,  we  fell  in  with 
several  large  islands  of  Ice,  lat.  AS°  ;  on  the  same 
day,  lat.  42'-'  loner.  60°,  we  spoke  the  brig  Sally  Bar- 
ker, six  days  from  Boston,  bound  for  Portugal  :  the 
three  days  following  the  winds  continuing  light, 
from  the  South  and  AVest,  we  spoke  a  brig  I'rom 
Portland  four  days  out,  bound  to  Surinam. 

Cartel  perfectly  healthy  with  the  exception  of 
©nr  man  very  low  in  a  consumption. 

On  the  first  of  June,  lat.  40,  60,  long.  64,  spoke 
tie  ship  Helvitius  of  Philadelphia,  bound  home, 
after  remaining  during  the  whole  war  up  the  east 
country.  On  the  second  of  June,  lat.  40,  35. 
long.  69,  the  majority  of  the  prisoners  agreed  to 
take  possession  of  the  cartel,  and  run  her  into 
New- York,  for  the  following  reasons  :  the  ship  be- 
ing disabled  by  the  loss  of  her  main  trussel-trees, 
which  endangered  the  top-mast,  and  rendered  her 
unfit  for  sea  ;  secondly,  there  being  every  appear- 
ance of  a  gale  from  the  S.  VV.  and  the  weather 
thick  and  hazy ;  thirdly,  the  port  of  N.  York  be- 
ing the  most  convenient  for  the  greater  part  of 
the  prisoners  5  for  which  reasons,  at  twelve  meri- 
dian, by  the  general  voice  of  all  on  board,  the 
eommaad  was  taken  iroai  her  former  capiaiii,  ciiid 


221 

she  directed  for  the  port  of  N.  York.     At  4,  P.  M. 
the  man   in  a   consumption  "  put  off  this    mortal 
coil,"  and  took  his  quietus  in  thirty-live  fathom  of 
water,  in  the  usual  form  at  sea. 
B'       The  captain  of  the  ship  required   some  docu- 
W  ment,  that  he  might  show  for  his   indemnification 
.     for  resigning  the  command  of  the  ship,  and  devia- 
ting from  his  destined  port,  which  was  Norfolk, 
Vir. ;  the  following  certificate,  signed  by  a  great 
number  of  the  prisoners,  was  delivered  him. 
Cerlificate, 
"  We,  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  the  U.  States 
^     of  America,  do  hereby  certify,  that  on  the  second 
day  of  June,  1815,   at   twelve  meridian,  being  in 
lat.  40,  30,  long.  69,  30,  by  mutual   agreement  of 
|-  a  majority  of  prisoners  now  on  board  the  cartel 
Maria  Christiana,  bound   for  Norfolk,  did  take 
possession  of  her,  and  directed  her  for  the  port  of 
New-York." 

At  four  o'clock  on  the  third,  we  discovered  the 
highlands  of  N.  Jersey  bearing  W.  by  S.;  at  eight 
made  the  light-house,  distance  three  or  four 
leagues  ;  at  two  P.  M.  obtained  a  pilot  and  stood 
witiun  the  Hook  ;  at  seven  came  to  an  anchor  ;  the 
next  morning  arrived  at  New-York. 

Having  received  the  report  of  the  commission- 
ers since  our  arrival  in  the  United  States,  we  shall 
give  it  Lo  the  reader  verbatim.     The  reuUer  wil! 


222 

perceive  that  it- differs  somewhat  from  the  account 
of  the  massacre  which  I  have  given  before,  and 
that  of  the  committee  of  prisoners.  The  pubhc 
are  to  judge  of  the  report ;  the  facts  seem  not  to 
warrant  just  such  an  one  ;  but  to  give  my  simple 
opinion  as  an  individual,  I  believe  that  the  com- 
missioners through  a  sort  of  pia  fraus  for  the  love 
of  peace  and  harmony  betv/een  the  two  govern- 
ments, have  made  it  a  vail  of  amnesty,  and  a  pre- 
ventative of  new  troubles. 

THE  REPORT  OF  THE  COMMISSIONERS. 

Plymouth,  'iQth  April,  1815. 
We,  the  undersigned  commissioners,  appointed 
©n  behalf  of  our  respective  governments,  to  in- 
quire into,  and  report  upon,  the  unfortunate  oc- 
currence of  the  6th  of  April  inst.  at  Dartmoor 
prison  ;  having  carefully  perused  the  proceedings 
of  the  several  courts  of  inquiry  instituted  imme* 
diately  after  that  event,  by  the  orders  of  Admiral 
Sir  John  T.  Duckworth  arid  Major  General  Brown 
respectively,  as  well  as  the  depositions  taken  at 
the  qoroner's  inquest  upon  the  bodies  of  the  pri- 
soners who  lost  their  lives  upon  that  melancholy 
occasion  :  upon  v/hich  inquest  the  jury  found  a 
verdict  of  justifiable  homicide;  proceed  immedi- 
atdy  to  the  examination  upon  oath  in  the  presence 
of  one  or  more  of  the  magistrates  of  the  vicinity, 
•fair  the  witnesses,  both  American  and  English^ 


223 

who  offered  themselves  for  that  purpose  ;  or  who 
could  be  discovered  as  likely  to  afford  any  materi- 
al information  upon  the  subject,  as  well  as  those 
who  had  been  previously  examined  before  the 
coroner,  or  otherwise,  to  the  number  in  the  whole 
of  about  eighty.  We  further  proceed  to  a  minute 
examination  of  the  prisons,  for  the  purpose  of 
clearing  up  some  points,  which  upon  the  evidence 
alone,  were  scarcely  intelligible ;  obtaining  from 
the  prisoners,  and  from  the  officers  of  the  depot, 
all  the  necessary  assistance  and  explanation  :  and 
premising,  that  we  have  been  from  necessity  com- 
pelled to  draw  m.any  of  our  conclusions  from 
statements  and  evidence  highly  contradictory,  we 
do  now  make  upon  the  whole  picceedini^s  the  ibl- 
lowins:  rer>ort : — 

During  the  period  which  has  elapsed  since  the 
arrival  in  this  country  of  the  account  of  the  ratifi- 
cation of  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  an  increased  degree 
of  rcsdessness  and  impatience  of  confinement  aj)- 
pears  to  have  prevailed  amongst  the  American 
prisoners  at  Dartmoor,  which  though  not  exhibi- 
ted in  the  shape  of  any  violent  excess,  has  been 
principally  indicated  by  threats  of  breaking  out 
if  not  soon  released. 

On  the  fourth  of  this  month  in  particular,  only 
two  days  previous  to  the  events,  the  subject  oi 
this  incpiry,  a  large  body  of  the  prisoners  ruslied 


224 


into  the  market  square,  from  whence,  by  the  re- 
gulations of  the  prison,  they  are  excluded,  de- 
manding bread,  instead  of  biscuit,  which  had  on 
that  day  been  issued  by  <,hc  officers  of  the  depot ; 
their  demands,  however,  having  been  then  almost 
im.m.ediately  complied  with,  they  returned  to  their 
ov.Ti  yards,  and  the  employment  of  force  on  that 
occasion  became  unnecessary. 

On  the  evening  of  the  sixth,  about  six  o'clock, 
it  was  clearly  proved  to  us,  that  a  breach  had 
been  made  in  one  of  the  prison  walls,  sufficient 
for  a  full  sized  man  to  pass,  and  that  others  had 
been  commenced  in  the  course  of  the  day  near 
the  same  spot,  though  never  completed. 

That  a  number  of  the  prisoners  were  over  the 
railing  erected  to  prevent  them  from  communica- 
ting with  the  sentinels  on  the  walls,  which  was  of 
course  forbidden  by  the  regulations  of  the  prison, 
and  that  in  the  space  between  the  railing  and 
those  walls,  they  were  tearing  up  pieces  of  turf, 
and  wantonly  pelting  each  other  in  a  noisy  and 
disorderly  manner. 

That  a  much  more  considerable  number  of  the 
prisoners  wa?  collected  together  at  that  time  in 
one  of  their  yards  near  the  place  where  the 
breach  was  effected,  and  that  although  such  collec- 
tion of  prisoners  was  not  unusual  at  other  times 
(the  gamblmg  tables  being  commonly  kept  in  that 


■225- 

part  of  the  yard)  yet,  when  connected  with  the 
circumstances  of  the  breach,  and  the*  time  of  the 
day,  which  was  after  the  hour  the  signal  for  the 
prisoners  to  their  respective  prisons  had  ceased  to 
sound,  it  became  a  natural  and  just  ground  of 
alarm  to  those  who  had  charge  of  the  depot. 

It  was  also  in  evidence  tha)t  in  the  building  for- 
merly the  petty  olhcers'  prison,  but  now  the  guard 
barrack,  which  stands  in  the  yard  to  which  the 
hole  in  the  wall  would  serve  as  a  communication, 
a  part  of  the  arms  of  the  guard  who  were  ofi'duty, 
were  usually  kept  in  the  racks,  and  though  there 
was  no  evidence  that  this  xvas  in  any  respect  the 
motive  which  induced  the  prisoners  to  make  the 
opening  in  the  wall,  or  even  that  they  were  ever 
ac(juainted  with  the  fact,  it  naturally  became  at. 
least  a  further  cause  of  suspicion  and  alarm,  and 
an  additional  reason  for  precaution. 

Upon  these  grounds  Capt.  Shortland  appears 
to  us  to  have  been  justified  in  giving  the  order, 
which  about  this  time  he  seems  to  have  given,  to 
sound  the  alarm  bell,  the  usual  signal  for  collect- 
ins:  th^  officers  of  the  depot  and  putting  the  milita- 
ry on  the  alert. 

However  reasonable  and  justifiable  this  was  as 
a  measure  of  precaution,  the  effects  produced 
thei-eby  in  the  prisons,  but  which  could  not  have 
been  intended,  were  mo^i  unfortunate,  and  deeply. 


226 


io  be  regretted.  A  considerable  number  of  the 
prisoners  in  the  yards  where  no  disturbances 
existed  before,  and  who  were  either  already 
within  their  respective  prisons,  or  quietly  reti- 
ring as  usual  towards  them,  immediately  upon 
the  sound  of  the  bell  rushed  back  from  curiosity 
(as  it  appears)  towards  the  gates,  where,  by  that 
time,  the  crowd  had  assembled,  and  many  who^ 
were  at  the  time  absent  from  their  yards,  were 
also,  from  the  plan  of  the  prison,  compelled,  in  or- 
der to  reach  their  own  homes,  to  pass  by  the  same 
spot,  and  thus,  that  which  was  mearly  a  measure 
of  precaution,  in  its  operation  increased  the  evil  it 
was  intended  to  prevent. 

Almost  at  the  same  instant  that  the  alarm  bell 
rang,  (but  whether  before  or  subsequent,  is,  upon 
the  evidence,  doubtful,  though  Capt.  Shortland 
states  it  positively  as  one  of  his  further  reasons 
for  causing  it  to  ring)  some  one  or  more  of  the 
prisoners  broke  the  iron  chain,  which  was  the  on- 
ly fastening  of  No.  1  gate,  leading  into  the  market 
-square,  by  means  of  an  iron  bar  ;  and  a  very  con- 
siderable number  of  the  prisoners  immediately 
rushed  towards  that  gate  ;  and  many  of  them  be- 
gan to  press  forwards  as  fast  as  the  opening  would 
permit  into  the  square. 

There  was  no  direct  proof  before  us  of  pre- 
vious concert  or  preparation  on  the  part   of  the 


227 

prisoners ;  and  no  evidence  of  their  intention  ot 
disposition  to  effect  their  escape  on  tliis  occasion, 
excepting  that  which  arose  by  inference  from  the 
whole  of  the  above  detailed  circumstances  con- 
nected together. 

The  natural  and  almost  irresistible  inference  to 
be  drawn,  however,  from  the  conduct  of  the  pri- 
soners by  Capt.  Shortland,  and  the  military,  was, 
that  an  intention  on  the  part  of  the  prisoners  to 
escape  was  on  the  point  of  being  carried  into  exe- 
cution, and  it  was  at  least  certain  that  they  were 
by  force  passing  beyond  the  limits  prescribed  to 
them,  at  a  time  when  they  ought  to  have  been 
quietly  going  in  for  the  night.  It  was  also 
in  evidence  that  the  outer  gates  of  the  market 
square  were  usually  opened  about  this  time  to  let 
the  bread  wagon  pass  and  repass  to  the  store, 
although  at  the  period  in  question  they  were  in 
fact  closed. 

Under  these  circumstances,  and  with  these  im- 
pressions necessarily  operating  upon  his  mind, 
and  a  knowledge  that  if  the  prisoners  once  pene- 
trated through  the  square,  the  power  of  escape 
was  almost  to  a  certainty  afforded  to  them,  if  they 
should  be  so  disposed.  Capt.  Shortland  in  the 
first  instance  proceeded  down  the  square  towards 
the  prisoners,  having  ordered  a  part  of  the  differ- 
ent guards,  to  the  number  of  about  fifty  only  at 


228 

first,  (though  they  were  increased  afterwards,)  to 
follow  him.  For  some  time  both  he  and  Dr.  Ma- 
grath  endeavoured,  by  quiet  means  and  persua- 
.sion,  to  induce  the  prisoners  to  retire  to  their  own 
yards,  explaining  to  them  the  fatal  consequences 
-which  must  ensue  if  they  refused,  as  the  milita- 
ry would  in  that  case  be  necessarily  compelled  to 
employ  force.  The  guard  was  by  this  time  form- 
ed in  the  rear  of  Capt  Shortland,  about  two-thirds 
of  the  way  down  the  square — the  latter  is  about 
100  feet  bread,  and  the  guard  extended  nearly  all 
across.  Capt.  Shortland,  finding  that  persuasion 
was  all  in  vain,  and  that  although  some  were  indu- 
ced by  it  to  make  an  effort  to  retire,  others  pre.,  sed 
on  in  considerable  numbers,  at  last  ordered  about 
15  file  of  the  guard,  nearly  in  front  of  the  gate 
which  had  been  forced,  to  charge  the  prisoners 
back  to  their  own  yards.  The  prisoners  were  in 
some  places  so  near  the  military,  that  one  of  the 
soldiers  states  that  he  could  not  come  fairly  down 
to  the  charge ;  and  the  military  were  unwilling 
to  act  as  against  an  enemy.  Some  of  the  prison- 
ers also  were  unwilling  and  reluctant  to  retire,  and 
some  pushing  and  struggling  ensued  between  the 
parties,  arising  partly  from  intention,  but  mainly 
from  the  pressure  of  these  behind  preventing  those 
in  front  from  getting  back.  After  some  little  time, 
however,  this  charge  appears  to  have  been  so  far 


229 

effective,  and  that  with  little  or  no  injury  to  the 
prisoners,  as  to  have  driven   them  for   the  most 
part  quite  down  out  of  the  square,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  small  number  who  continued   their   re- 
sistance about  No.  1   gate.     A  great   crowd  still 
remained   collected  after  this,  in  the  passage  be- 
tween  the  square  and  the  prisoners'  yards,  and  in 
the  part  of  these  yards  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gates. 
This  assemblage    still   refused  to  withdraw,  and 
according  to  most  of  the  English  witnesses,  and 
some  of  the  American,  was   making  a  noise,  hal- 
looing, insulting,  and  provoking,  and  daring  the 
military  to  fire,    and,  according  to  the  evidence 
of  some  of  the   soldiers,   and  some    others,  was 
pelting  the  military  with  large  stones,   by   which 
^ome  of  them  were  actually  struck.     This  circum- 
stance is,  however,  denied  by  many  of  the  Amer- 
ican witnesses ;  and  some  of   the  English,  upon 
having  the  question  put  to  them,   stated  tliey  saw 
no  stones  thrown  previously  to  the  firing,  although 
their  situation  at  the  time   was  such  as  to   enable 
them  to  see  most  of  the  other  proceedings  in  the 
•square.       Under  these   circumstances  the  firing 
commenced.     With   regard  to  any  order  having 
b"en  given  to  fire,  the  evidence  is  very  contradic- 
tory.    Several  of  the  Americans  swear  positive- 
ly, that  Capt.  Shortland  gave  that  r^ff'er ;  but  the 
manner  in  which,  from  ihe  conlusioAi  of  the  mo- 
U  2 


230 

ment,  they  describe  this  part  of  the  transaction, 
is  so  different  in  its  details,  that  it  is  very  difficult 
to  reconcile  their  testimony.  Many  of  the  sol- 
diers and  other  English  \\itnesses,  heard  the  word 
given  by  some  one,  but  no  one  of  them  can  swear 
it  was  by  Capt.  Shortland,  or  by  any  one  in  par- 
ticular, and  some,  amongst  whom  is  the  officer 
commanding  the  guard,  think,  if  Capt.  Shortland 
had  given  such  an  order, that  they  must  have  heard 
it,  which  they  did  not.  In  addition  to  this,  Capt. 
Shortland  denies  the  fact ;  and  from  the"  situation 
in  which  he  appears  to  have  been  placed  at  the 
time,  even  according  to  the  American  witnesses, 
in  front  of  the  soldiers,  it  may  appear  somewhat 
improbable  that  he  should  then  have  given  such 
an  order.  But,  however,  it  may  remain  a  matter 
of  doubt  whether  the  firing  first  began  in  the 
square  by  order,  or  was  a  spontaneous  act  of  the 
soldiers  themselves,  it  seemed  clear  that  it  v»  as 
continued  and  renewed,  both  there  and  elsewhere, 
w^ithout  orders  ;  and  that  on  the  platforms,  and  in 
several  places  about  the  prison,  it  was  certainly 
commenced  w^ithout  any  authority.  The  fact  of 
an  order  having  been  given  at  first,  provided  the 
firing  was,  under  the  existing  circumstances,  jus- 
tifiable, does  not  appear  very  material  m  any  oth- 
er point  of  view  than  as  showing  a  want  of  self- 
possession,  and  discipline  in  the  troops,  if  they 


231 

should  have  fired  without  order.  With  regard  t© 
the  above  most  important  consideration,  oi  whe- 
ther the  hiiiig  vvas  justifiable  or  not,  we  are  of  opi- 
nion,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  from 
the  apprehension  which  the  soldiers  might  fairly 
entertain,  owing  to  the  numbers  and  conduct  of 
the  prisoners,  that  this  firing  to  a  certain  extent, 
was  justifiable  in  a  military  point  of  view,  in  or- 
der to  intimidate  i  he  prisoners,  and  compel  them 
thereby  to  desist  from  all  acts  of  violence,  and  to 
retire  as  they  were  ordered,  from  a  situotion  in 
vvliich  the  responsibility  of  the  agents,  and  the 
I  mihtary,  could  not  perm. t  them  with  safety  tore- 
main.  From  the  fact  of  the  crowd  being  so  close, 
and  the  firing  at  first  being  attended  with  ver\  lit- 
tle injury,  it  appears  probable  that  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  muskets  were,  as  stated  by  one  oi-  tv.o 
of  the  witnesses,  levelled  over  the  heads  of  tlie 
prisoners ;  a  circumstance  in  some  respects  to  be 
lamented,  as  it  induced  them  to  cry  out  "  bi;«nk 
<artridges,"  and  merely  irritated  and  encoura<  ed 
them  to  renew  their  insults  to  the  soldiery,  which 
produced  a  repetition  of  the  firing  in  a  manner 
much  more  destructive.  The  firing  in  the  square 
having  contmued  for  some  time,  by  which  several 
oi  tiie  prisoners  sustained  injuries,  the  grca'  t 
part  of  them  appear  to  have  been  running  b^ck 
with  the    utmost  precipitation  aod  confusion  to 


232 

their  respective  prisons,  and  the  cause  for  further 
firing  seems  at  this  period  to  have  ceased.  It  ap- 
pears accoi'dingly  that  Capt.  Shortland  was  in  the 
market  square,  exerting  liimseh^  and  giving  or- 
ders to  that  effect,  and  that  Lieut.  Fortye  had  suc- 
ceeded in  stopping  the  fire  of  his  part  of  the 
guard.  Under  these  circumstances  it  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  find  any  justification  for  the  further  con- 
tinuance and  renewal  of  the  firing,  which  certain- 
ly took  place  both  in  the  prison  yards  and  else- 
where :  though  we  have  some  evidence  of  subse- 
quent provocation  given  to  the  military,  and  re- 
sistance to  the  turnkeys  in  shutting  the  prisons, 
and  of  stones  being  thrown  out  from  v/ithin  the 
prison  doors.  The  subsequent  firing  rather  ap- 
pears to  have  arisen  from  the  state  of  individual 
irritation  and  exasperation  on  the  part  of  the  sol- 
diers who  followed  the  prisoners  into  their  yards, 
and  from  the  absence  of  nearly  all  the  officers, 
who  might  have  restrained  it ;  as  well  as  from  the 
great  difficulty  of  putting  an  end  to  a  firing  when 
once  commenced  under  such  circumstances.  Capt. 
Shortland  was  from  this  time  busily  occupied  with 
the  turnkeys  in  the  square,  receiving  and  taking 
care  of  the  wounded.  Ensign  White  rema.n:d 
with  his  guard  at  the  breach,  and  Lieuts.  Avelyne 
aud  Fortye,  the  only  other  subalterns  known  to 


233 

have  been  present,  continued  in  the   square  with 
the  mam  bodies  of  their  respective  guards. 

The  time  of  the  day,  which  was  the  officers' 
dinner  hour,  will  in  some  measure  explain  this,  ae 
it  caused  the  absence  of  every  officer  from  the  pri- 
son whose  presence  was  not  indispensable  there. 
And  this  circumstance,  which  has  been  urged  as 
an  argument  to  prove  the  intention  of  the  prisoners 
to  Lake  this  opportunity  to  escape,  tended  to  in- 
crease the  confusion,  and  to  prevent  those  great 
exertions  being  made,  which  might  perhaps  have 
obviated  a  portion  at  least  of  the  mischief  which 
ensued. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  firing  was  going  on 
in  the  square,  a  cross  fire  was  also  kept  up  from 
several  of  the  platforms  on  the  walls  round  the  pri- 
son where  the  senteries  stand, by  straggling  parties 
of  soldiers  wdio  ran  up  there  for  that  purpose.  As 
far  as  this  fire  was  directed  to  disperse  the  men  as- 
sembled round  the  breach,  for  which  purpose  it 
was  most  efiectual,  it  seems  to  stand  upon  the  same 
ground  as  that  in  the  first  instance  in  the  square. — 
But  that  part,  which  it  is  positively  sworn  was  di- 
rectcd  against  straggling  parties  of  prisoners  run- 
0  ning  about  the  yards  and  endeavouring  to  enter  ih 
the  few  doors  whichthe  turnkeys,according  to  their 
usual  practice,  had  left  open,  does  seem,  as  stated, 
tQ  have  been  wholly  without  object  or  excuse,  and 


234 


io  have  been  a  wanton  attack  upon  the  lives  of  de-  • 
fenceless,  and  at  that  time  iincfTending,  indivuhials. 
Tn  the  same,  or  even  more  severe  terms,  we  must 
remark  upon  what  was  proved  as  to  the  firing  into 
the  door  ways  of  the  prisons,  more  particularly  into 
that  of  No.  3  prison,  at  a  time  when  the  men  were 
in  crowds  at  the  entrance.  From  the  position  of 
the  prison  and  of  the  door,  and  from  the  marks  of 
the  balls  which  were  pointed  out  to  us,  as  well  as 
from  the  evidence,  it  was  clear  this  firing  must 
have  proceeded  from  soldiers  ci  very  few  feet  from 
the  door  way  ;  and  although  it  was  certainly 
sworn  that  the  prisoners  were  at  the  time  of  part 
of  the  firing  at  least,  continuing  to  insult  a'id  oc- 
casionally to  throw  stones  at  the  soldiers,  and  that 
they  were  standing  in  the  way  of,  and  impeding 
the  turnkey,  who  was  there  for  the  purpose  of 
closing  the  door,  yet  gtill  there  was  nothing  stated 
which  could  in  our  view  at  all  ^stify  such  exces- 
sively harsh  and  severe  treatment  of  helpless  and 
unarmed  prisoners,  when  all  idea  of  escape  was 
at  an  end.— ^Undcr  these  impressions,  we  used 
every  endeavour  to  ascertain  if  there  was  the 
least  prospect  of  identifying  any  of  the  soldiers 
who  had  been  guilty  of  the  particular  outrages! 
here  alluded  to,  or  of  tracing  any  particular  death 
at  that  time,  to  the  firing  of  any  particular  indi- 
vidual, but  without  success  ;  and  all  hopes  of  brin^- 


^ 


235 

ing  the  offenders  lo  punisliment  should  seem  to  be 
at  an  end. — In  conclusion,  ve,  the  undersigned, 
have  only  to  add,  that  whilst  avc  lament,  as  we 
do  most  deeply,  the  unfortunate  transaction  which 
has  been  the  subject  of  this  inquiry,  we  find  cur- 
selves  totally  unable  to  suggest  any  steps  to  be 
taken  as  to  those  parts  of  it  which  seem  to  call  for 
redress  and  punishment. 
(Signed) 

CHARLES  KING, 

FRAS.  SEYxliOUR  LARPFNT. 

London,    X^th  Ajoril.   181j. 
Sir, 
At  the  request  of  Lord  Castlereagh,  we  have 

iiad  interviews  with  him  and  Mr.  Goulburn  on  the 
subject  of  the  transportation  of  the  American 
prisoners  now  in  this  country,  to  the  United  States, 
and  of  the  late  unfortunate  event  at  the  depot  at 
Dartmoor. 

On  the  first  subject,  w^e  agreed  to  advise  your 
acceptance  of  the  jiroposition  of  Lord  Castle- 
reagh to  transport  the  prisoners  at  the  joint  e^* 
Dense  of  the  two  countries,  reserving  the  con- 
struction of  the  eirticles  of  the  treaty,  which  pr^ 
vides  for  the  mutual  restoration  of  prisoners,  for 
future  adjustment.  It  was  st;Ued  by  u;*,  r»nd  was 
,  so  understood,  that  the  joint  expense,  thus  to  be  in- 
curred, is  to  comprehend  as  well  the  requis.te  ton- 


236 

nage  as  the  subsistence  of  the  prisoners  ;  and 
moreover  thai  measures  of  precaution  should  be 
adopted  relative  to  the  health  and  comfort  of  the 
prisoners  similar  to  those  which  had  taken  place 
in  Am.erica. 

The  details  of  this  arrangement,  if  you  concur 
with  us  as  to  the  expediency  of  making  it,  are  left 
with  you  to  settle  with  the  proper  British  autho- 
rity. 

On  the  other  subject,  as  a  statement  of  the  trans- 
action has  been  received  from  the  American  priso- 
ners, difiering  very  materially  in  fact  from  that 
which  had  resulted  from  an  inquiry  instituted  by 
the  port  admiral,  it  has  been  thought  adviseable 
that  some  n.eans  should  be  devised  of  procuring 
inrormation  as  to  the  real  state  of  the  case,  in  or- 
der, on  the  one  hand,  to  show  that  there  had  not 
been  any  wanton  or  improper  sacrifice  of  the  lives 
of  American  citizens,  or,  on  the  other,  to  enable 
the  British  government  to  punish  their  civil  and 
military  officers,  if  it  should  appear  that  they  have 
re-orted  to  measures  of  extreme  severity  without 
necessity,  or  with  too  much  precipitation. 

Lord  Castlereagh  proposed  that  the  inquiry 
should  be  a  joint  one,  conducted  by  a  commissioner 
selected  by  each  government.  And  we  have 
thought  such  an  mquiry  most  likely  to  produce  an 
impartial  and  satisfactory  result. 


237 

We  presume  that  you  will  have  too  much  occu- 
pation on  the  first  subject  and  the  other  inciden- 
tal duties  of  your  office,  to  attend  to  this  incjuiry 
in  person.  On  that  supposition,  we  have  stated 
to  the  British  government  that  wc  should  recom- 
mend to  you  the  selection  of  Charles  King,  Esq. 
as  a  fit  person  to  conduct  it  in  behalf  of  the  Ameri- 
can government.  If  Mr.  King  will  undertake  the 
■uisiness,  he  will  forthwith  proceed  to  Dartmoor, 
•nd  in  conjunction  with  the'  British  commisoioncr, 
who  may  be  appointed  on  the  occasion,  will  ex- 
mine  the  persons  concerned,  and  such  other 
evidence  as  may  be  thought  necdSsary,  and  make  a 
joint  report  upon  the  facts  of  the  case  to  John  Q^ 
4dams,  Esq.  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  at  this  court  and  to  the  British  govern- 
ment. 

The  mode  of  executing  this  service  must  be  left 
to  the  discretion  of  Mr.  King  and  his  colleague. — 
If  they  can  agree  upon  a  narrative  of  the  facts 
after  having  heard  the  evidence,  it  will  he*^  better 
than  reporting  the  whole  mass  of  testimony  in  de- 
tail, which  they  may  perhaps  find  it  necessary  to 
do,  if  they  cannot  come  to  such  an  agreement. 
We  are,  sir,  your  obedient  humble  servants, 

(Signed) 

H.  CLAY, 

ALLEKT  GALLATIN. 
R.  G.  Beaslcy,  Esq.  kc.  ^c. 
X 


238 

Plymouth,  ^Gth  April,  1815. 
Sir, 

In  pursuance  of  instructions  received  from 
Messrs.  Clay  and  Gallatin,  I  have  now  the  honour 
to  transmit  to  you  the  report  prepared  by  Mr. 
Larpent  and  myself  on  behalf  of  our  respectiye 
governments,  in  relation  to  the  unfoitunate  trans- 
actions at  Dartmoor  Prison  of  War,  on  the  Gth  of 
the  present  month.  Considering  it  of  much  im- 
portance that  the  report,  whatever  it  .might  be, , 
•should  go  forth  under  our  joint  signatures,  I  have 
forborne  to  press  some  of  the  points  which  it  in- 
volves, as  far  as  otherwise  I  might  have  done,  and  j 
it  therefore  may  not  be  improper  in  this  letter  to 
enter  into  some  little  explanation  of  such  parts 
of  the  report.  Although  it  does  appear  that  a 
part  of  the  prisoners  were  on  that  evening  in  such 
a  state,  and  under  such  circumstances,  as  to  have 
justified,  in  the  view  which  the  commander  of  the 
depot  could  not  but  take  of  it,  the  intervention  of 
the  niilitary  force,  and  even  in  a  strict  sense,  ike 
first  use  of  fire-arms,  yet  I  cannot  but  express  it 
as  my  settled  opinion,  that  by  conduct  a  little  more 
temporizing,  this  dreadful  alternative  of  firing  upon 
unarmed  prisoners  might  have  been  avoided. — 
Yet  as  this  opinion  has  been  the  result  of  subse- 
quent examination,  and  after  having  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  the  comparatively  harmless  state  of 


239 

iie  prisoners,  it  may  be  but  fair  to  consider,  whe* 
ther  in  such  a  moment  of  confusion  and  alarm,  as 
that  appears  to  have  been,  the  oificer  command- 
ing could  have  fairly  estimated  his  danger,  or  have 
measured  out  with  precision  the  extent  and  nature 
of  the  force  necessary  to  guard  against  it. 

But  when  the  firing  became  general,  as  it  after- 
wards appears  to  have  done,  and  caught  with  elec- 
tric rapidity  from  the  square  to  the  platforms,  there 
is  no  plea  nor  shadow  of  excuse  for  it.  except  in 
the  personal  exasperation  of  the  soldiery,  nor  for 
the  more  dehberate,  and  therefore  more  unjustifi- 
able, firing  which  took  place  into  tlirce  of  the 
prisons,  No.  1,  3,  and  4,  but  more  pailicularly  in- 
to No.  3,  after  the  prisoners  had  retired  into  them, 
and  there  was  no  longer  any  pretence  of  appre- 
hensions as  to  their  escape.  Upon  this  ground, 
as  you,  sir,  will  perceive  by  the  report,  Mr.  Lar- 
pent  and  myself  had  no  difterence  of  opinion,  and 
I  am  fully  persuaded  that  my  ovm  regret  was  not 
greater  than  his,  at  perceiving  hov/  hopeless  would 
be  the  attempt  to  trace  to  any  individuals  of  the 
military  these  outrageous  proceedings. 

As  to  whether  the  order  to  fire  came  from  vJap- 
faln  Shortland,  I  yet  confess  myself  unable  to  form 
any  satisfactory  opinion,  though  perhaps  the  bias 
of  my  mind  is,  that  he  did  give  such  an  order, — 

% 


240 

But  his  anxiety  and  exertions  to  stop  it  after  it  had 
continued  for  some  little  time,  are  fully  proved, 
and  his  general  conduct,  previous  to  this  occur- 
rence, as  far  as  wc  could  with  propriety  enter  into 
such  details,  appears  to  have  been  characterized 
with  great  fairness,  and  even  kindness,  in  the  light 
in  which  he  stood  tov/ards  the  prisoners. 

On  the  subject  of  any  complaints  against  their 
own  government  existing  among  the  prisoners,  it 
was  invariably  answered  to  several  distinct  ques- 
tions put  by  me  on  that  head,  that  none  whatso- 
ever existed  or  had  been  expressed  by  them,  al- 
ihough  they  confessed  themselves  to  entertain 
some  animosity  against  Mr.  Beasley,  to  whom  they 
attributed  their  detention  in  this  country ;  with 
what  justice  you,  sir,  will  be  better  able  to  judge. 
They  made  no  complaint  whatsoever,  as  to  their 
provisions  and  general  mode  of  living  and  treat- 
ment in  the  prison. 

I  have  transmitted  to  Mr.  Beasley  a  list  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  on  this  melancholy  occasion, 
with  a  request  that  he  w^ould  forward  it  to  the 
United  States  for  the  information  of  their  friends 
at  home,  and  I  am  pleased  to  have  it  in  my  power 
to  say,  that  the  wounded  are  for  the  most  part  do- 
ing well. 


241 

I  have  also  enclosed  to  Mr.  Beasley  the  notes 
taken  by  me  of  the  evidence  adduced  before  us, 
with  a  request  that  he  would  have  them  fairly  co- 
pied, as  also  a  copy  of  the  depositions  taken  before 
the  Coroner,  and  desired  him  to  submit  them  to 
you  when  in  order. 

I  cannot  conclude,  sir,  without  expressing  my 
high  sense  of  the  impartiality  and  manly  firmness 
with  which  this  inquiry  has  been  conducted  on  the 
part  of  Mr.  Larpent,  nor  v^'ithout  mentioning  that 
every  facility  was  afforded  to  us  in  its  prosecution, 
as  well  by  the  military  officers  commanding  here 
and  at  the  prison,  as  by  the  magistrates  in  the 
vicinity. 

I  have  tlie  honour  to  be,  with  much  respcci, 
your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

(Signed)  CHARLES  KING. 

His  Excellency  J.  Q,.  Adams,  &ic.  &c. 

London^  30th  Aprils  1815. 
Sir, 

In  my  letter  of  the  19th  instant,  I  informed  you 

of  the  measures  which  had   been  adopted  here  in 

consequence  of  the  late  unfortunate  event  at  Dart* 

moor  Prison, 

1  have  now  the  honour  to  transmit  the  copy  o? 
a  letter  addressed  to  me  by  Mr,  Clay  and  Mr. 
Gallatin,  relative  to  that  occurrence,  and  to  th£) 

'  X   2 


242 

Vaiisportatioti  ot  the  American  prisoners  in    tins 
country  to  iiie  United  States. 

In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Adams,  it  'becdines  my 
luty  to  communicate  for  the  information  of  our 
government,  the  result  of  the  investigation  at  Dart- 
moor. I  enclose  a  copy  of  the  joint  report  of  the 
;ommissioners  appointed  for  that  purpose,  also  of 
a  letter  from  Mr.  King  to  Mr.  Adams,  and  of  a 
'list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  on  that  melancholy 
iccasion. 

I  shall  leave  to  Mr.  Adams  any  further  steps 
which  he  may  deem  it  proper  to  take  in  this  busi- 
ness. 1  cannot,  however,  forbear  to  notice  the  er- 
i-oneou3  impression  of  the  prisoners,  that  their  de- 
tention so  long  has  been  owing  to  me.  You  are 
aware,  sir,  of  my  constant  exertions  during -the 
war  to  effect  their  liberation.  I  immediately,  on 
the  signing  of  the  treat}^  of  peace  at  Ghent,  re- 
newed my  instances  on  that  subject  ;  proposing, 
as  a  condition,  that  all  prisoners  who  might  be  de- 
livered over  to  me  by  the  British  government, 
should  be  considered  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  not 
at  liberty  to  serve  until  regularly  exchanged,  in 
the  event  of  the  treaty  not  being  ratified  by  the 
President.  This  proposition  was  declined  and  iii 
a  peremptory  manner. 


243 

On  the  receipt  of  the  intelligence  of  the  ratifica- 
tion from  America,  I  lost  not  a  moment  in  request- 
ing the  release  of  the  prisoners,  according  to  the 
terms  of  the  treaty  ;  and  the  number  of  vessels 
which  I  had  hired,  as  mentioned  in  my  letter  of  the 
13th,  and  which  are  now  on  their  voyage  to  the 
United  States,  Avill  show  that  the  necessary  steps 
were  taken  to  provide  for  their  immediate  trans- 
portation to  their  country.  The  prisoners  also 
were  informed  of  these  measures,  and  of  the  ex- 
ertions which  had  been  made  from  the  commence- 
ment, to  return  them  to  their  homes  with  the  least 
possible  delay.  Therefore,  whatever  may  have 
been  their  uneasiness,  under  confinement,  and 
whatever  hostile  feelings  they  may  have  had  to- 
wards me,  as  noticed  in  the  report,  and  in  Mr. 
King's  letter,  I  must  say  with  confidence,  that  I 
could  not  prevent  the  one,  nor  have  1  deserved  the 
other. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  most  obedi- 
ont  humble  servant, 

R.  G.  BEASLEY,  , 

The  honourable  Johx  Masox,  &c.  &c.  &c. 


244 

From  the  Plymouth  (Eng.)  Telegraph,  April 
22,  1815. 
To  the  Editor, 
Sir,  , 
The  officers  and  prisoners  of  this  dejx)!,  feel- 
ing: an  ardent  desire  that  the  citizens  of  the 
United  States  may  be  informed  of  the  many  and 
great  services  rendered  them  by  Dr.  Magrath,  and 
liicewise  that  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain  may 
learn  with  what  sentiments  of  gratitude  and  re- 
spect his  unparalleled  efforts  in  the  cause  of  hu- 
manity, and  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  have  at  this 
depot  filled  us ;  we  have  to  request  that  you  will 
cause  to  be  inserted  in  your  paper,  as  early  as 
possible,  copies  of  the  enclosed  testimonials,  ad- 
dressed to  that  gentleman. 

1  am,  <fcc. 

Benjamin  Mercer. 
Hospital,  April]  13,1815. 

Dartmoor  prison,  March  28.  1815. 
To  His  Excellency  James  Madison. 
Honoured  and  respected  Sir, 
From  the  general  philanthrophy  of  your  charac- 
ter and    liberality   of  sentiment,   no  apology   is 
deemed  requisite  for  introducing  to  your  particu- 
lar notice,  and  that  of  the  nation  at  large.  Dr. 
George  Magrath.  principal  of  the  medical  depart- 
ment* for  the  American  prisoners  of  war  in  Eng-% 


245 

k 

land.  It  is  impossible  for  us  to  speak  of  this  gen- 
tleman in  terms  that  will  do  justice  to  his  superior 
professional  science,  brilliant  talents,  the  exem- 
plary virtues  of  his  heart,  the  urbanity  and  easy 
accessibility  of  his  manners,  his  unremitting  as- 
siduities and  unwearied  exertions,  in  combatting  a 
succession  of  diseases  of  the  most  exasperated  and 
malignant  character,  v/hich  prevailed  among  the 
prisoners.  At  the  first  forming  of  the  depot, 
pneumonia^  in  its  worst  form,  generally  prevailed, 
which  degenerated  into  a  still  more  dangerous 
species  of  pulmonic  complaint,  nearly  peripneu' 
monia  notha^  which  was  rapidly  succeeded  by  a 
putrid  kind  of  measles,  and  that  destructive  mala- 
dy followed  by  a  malignant  small-pox,  which 
spread  rapidly  ;  dismay  and  apprelicnsion  were 
painted  on  every  countenance. 

Dr.  Magrath's  time  and  attention  were  fully  oc- 
cupied in  the  hospital,  and  in  vaccinating  the  pri- 
soners. From  his  unprecedented  exertions  in  an 
inclement  season  of  the  year,  in  a  most  inhospita- 
ble clime,  his  health  became  seriously  impaired ; 
but  totally  regardless  of  himself,  he  persevered  in 
his  unparalleled  exertions,  and  from  his  superior 
knowledge  in  the  healing  art,  was  the  means,  un- 
der divine  Providence,  of  rescuing  many  citizens 
of  the  United  States  from  the  fast  approximating 
embraces  of  death.     This  malignant  species  of 


246 


small-pox,  unknown  to  the  generality  of  profes- 
sional gentlemt^n,  appeared  in  other  places,  and  a 
far  greater  number  fell  victims,  in  proportion  to 
the  cases  at  the  place.  We  therefore  trust,  that 
some  distinguished  mark  of  the  nation's  gratitude 
Will  be  conferred  on  Dr.  Magrath ;  for  this  truly 
great  man's  exertions  in  the  cause  of  suffering 
humanity,  have  been  rarely  equalled,  but  never 
excelled. 

We  have  the  honour  to  remain,  with  sentiments 
of  respect  and  attachment,  your  excellency's  obe- 
dient humble  servants, 

BENJ.  MERCER, 

PIERRE  G.  DE  PEYSTER, 

HENRY  PROCTOR, 

JOHN  COTTLE, 

THOS.  CARBERRY, 

JAMES  LESTER, 

HENRY  BULL, 

THOS.  B,  MOTT, 

SETH  WALKER, 

W ILLIAM  W'EST, 

CHARLES  DEXTER, 

WILLIAM  MOLLEY, 

JOHN  S.  TROUBRIDGE, 

HENRY  SHERBURN, 

THOS.  B.  FR06T. 


345 


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247 

ANSWER. 

Officers  and  brave  Americans  collecHvely» 
Permit  me  to  request  you  will  accept  the  warm- 
est and  most  sincere  thanks  of  my  heart,  for  the 
flattering  testimonials  of  your  approbation  of  my 
conduct,  with  which  you  have  honoured  me,  and 
allow  me  to  assure  you,  that  nothing  can  be  more 
exquisitely  gratifying  to  my  very  best  feeling, 
than  the  language  in  which  you  have  been  pleased 
to  convey  this  mark  of  your  esteem.  I  feel 
convinced  that  you  will  indulgently  excuse  me,  if 
I  find  it  impossible  to  command  words  suiliciently 
emphatic,  adequately  to  express  the  sentiments  of 
gratitude,  with  v/hich  I  am  penetrated,  for  this 
unexpected  proof  of  your  regard  ;  I  must  there- 
fore allow  my  heart,  rather  than  ni)'  pen,  to  lliank 
you.  But  it  would  not  be  doing  justice  to  my 
feelings  were  I  to  abstain  from  assuring  you,  that 
I  have  cn<leavoured  to  perforin  my  duty  towards 
you,  with  that  self-devotcdness,  which  looks  only 
foi"  its  reward  in  its  own  consciousness  of  right,  and 
its  own  secret  sense  of  virtue  ;  and  whatever  dif- 
ficulties I  have  had  to  encounter  in  tiie  discbarge 
of  my  important  trust,  by  struggling  with  # suc- 
cession of  the  most  violent  and  exasperated  epi- 
demic diseases,  perhaps  ever  recorded  in  medical 
history,  during  the  whole  of  my  scrvi^  among 
you,  the   distinguished  proof  of  your  confidence 


24S 


and  approbation  of  my  professional  labours,  with 
whicii  you  this  day,have  bet^n  pleased  to  honoui-  me, 
amply  compensates  me,  and  must  rank  amongst 
the  proudest  and  happiest  events  of  my  life.  It 
now  only  remains  for  me,  in  this  plain,  but  un- 
feigned language,  again  to  beg  you  will  receive 
my  most  sincere  thanks ;  and  to  assure  you,  col- 
lectively, that  a  due  and  lively  sense  of  the  high 
honour  which  you  have  conferred  upon  me,  shall  to 
the  last  moments  of  my  existence  remain  ingrafted 
in  my  breast.  And  here  allow  me  most  sincerely 
to  congratulate  you  on  the  happy  event  which  ter-* 
minates  your  captivity,  and  which  is  soon  to  re- 
store you  to  the  bosoms  of  j-our  families  and 
friends ;  and  that  you  may  all  long  enjoy  peace 
and  happiness,  is  the  sincere  wish  of 

your  most  grateful  and  much 

obliged  humble  servant, 
GEO.  MaGRAIH. 
Dartmoor,  March  30,  1815. 

Dartmoor  Prison,  April  ^th,  1815. 
j^  To  His  Excellency  John  Quincy  Adams. 

Sir, 
Impressed   with  the  sense  of  duty  which  we 
owe  to  our  country  and  to  ourselves,  we  respec- 
tively solicit  permission  to  introduce  to  your  Ex- 
cellency George  Magrath,  Esq.  M.  P.  principal  of 


249 

the  medical  department  at  this  depot.  Language 
is  incompetent  to  delineate  the  worth  and  charac- 
ter of  this  gentleman,  pre-eminent  in  medical  sci- 
ence, enriched  by  every  virtue  and  accomplish- 
ment that  can  dignify  and  adorn  human  nature 
and  form  the  gentleman  and  philanthrophist. 

His  professional  skill  has  been  peculiarly  conspi- 
cuous  in  his  successfully  combatting  a  succession 
of  diseases,  of  the  most  exasperated  and  malignant 
character,  which  prevailed  among  the  prisoners. 

Dr.  Magrath's  health,  from  his  indefatigable  exer- 
tions, became  seriously  impaired,  but  he  perseve- 
red in  tlie  performance  of  his  arduous  duties  and 
unremitting  efforts  to  arrest  the  alarming  and  ra- 
pid advances  of  the  prevailing  diseases  ;  and  he 
was  the  agent  under  divine  Providence  of  rescuing 
many  citizens  of  the  United  States  from  a  prema- 
ture grave,  and  as  it  were,  renewing  their  exis- 
tence, but  more  particularly  on  the  late  ui\happy 
occurrence. 

Language    is   too   impotent   to  describe    Dr. 

Magrath's    unexampled   endeavours   to    prevent 

the    effusion   of   blood ;  regardless  of  the   many 

dangers    by  which  he   was  environed,  he  per- 

Y 


25a 

severed,  amidst  the  heavy  and  incessant  fire  of 
musketry,  in  his  humane  endeavours  to  preveat 
the  fatal  catastrophe. 

His  treatment  of  the  unfortunate  wounded 
Americans,  is  superior  to  all  praise,  and  was 
such  as  to  entitle  Dr.  Magrath  to  the  es- 
teem and  gratitude  of  the  citizens  of  the  Uni- 
ted States. 

We  therefore  respectfully  and  ardently  solicitj 
that  your  Excellency  would  be  pleased  to  honour 
Dr.  Magrath  with  your  particular  notice  and  es- 
teem, and  to  convey  these  our  sentiments  to  the 
government  of  the  United  States  ;  for  we  would 
wish  to  give  all  possible  publicity  to  our  high  sense ' 
of  Dr.  Magrath,  and  to  evince  to  our  country  and 
the  world  how  gratefully  we  appreciate  the  essen- 
tial services  we  have  received  from  that  gentle- 
man. 

We  avail  ourselves  of  this  opportunity  to  offer 
to  your  Excellency  our  congratulations  on  the 
happy  termination  of  your  important  duties  at 
Ghent,  by  the  conclusion  of  a  peace  so  highly 
honourable  to  our  beloved  country,  and  to  your- 
^selfj  and  to  assure  your  Excellency  of  our  high  r-^^ 


251 

spect  and  attachment  to  your  character  and  per- 
son. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir, 
your    obedient  humble 
Servants, 
For  and  in  behalf  of  the  American  prisoners  of 
war  at  this  depot, 

PIERRE  G.  DEPEYSTER, 
HENRY  PROCTER, 
HENRY  BULL, 
JOHN  COTTLE, 
THOS.  GAIR, 
THOS.  CARBERRY, 
JAMES  LESTER, 
BENJ.  MERCER, 
ISAAC  DOWELL. 

Dartmoor^  April  10,  1815, 
Gentlemen^ 
Honoured  as  I  am  with  the  approbation  of  those 
whose  good  opinion  I  so  highly  estimate,  I  cannot 
permit  myself  to  receive  this   additional  mark   of 
your  friendship  and  regard  (in  which  you  much 
overrate     my     humble    exertions,    in  .  the     dis- 
charge   of    my    duty     and     the    cause     of    hu- 
manity,) without   begging  leave  to    assure   you, 
that  whilst  it  reflects  upon  me  the  highest  honour 
tha  could  be  conferred,  it  lays  claim  to  my  heart- 


252 

felt  acknowledgments,  and  everlasting  grati^de. 
With  the  most  sincere  and  cordial  good  wishes 
for  your  health  and  happiness, 

I  remain,  gentlemen,  your  much 
obliged  and  most  grateful  servant. 
GEO.  MAGRATH. 
To  the  gentlemen  forming   the  Hospital    Corrt' 
mittee. 


February,  1815. 
The  following  is  a  correct  list  of  all  who  entered 
his  Majesty'^s  service  out  of  Dartmoor  prison 
from  Jlpril  IMS,  until  1014  ^  to  which  is  an- 
nexed their  former  residence  and  the  ships  in  which 
they  were  captured  or  impressed- 

James  Akin,  Roxbury,  Mass.  Wm.  Bayard 

Abel  Akins,  Penobscot,  Maine,  Tygris,  Baltimore 

A ] ford  Arnold,  unknown,  Penn.  Viper,     do. 

Wm.  Arm.-;trong,  Salem,  Mass.  Rolla,  priv. 

Anthony  Agusta,  New-Orleans,  do         do 

Henry  Allen,  Roxbury,  Mass.  Wm.  Bayard,  N.  Y. 

George  Blanchard,  Elizabeth,  N.  J.    do. 

Gabriel  Bugoine, — Vir.  brig  Star,  N.  Y. 

Henry  Brown,  New- York,  Criterion,  Baltimore 

E  :\vard  Blackstone,  Kennebunk,  Maine,  do 

W  liiiam  Bisnop,  Danverse,  Mass.  Spitfire,  Boston 


•Vf 


2oS 

William  Brown,  New-Point-Comfort,  Vir.  U.  S. 
'    brig  Argus. 

Frederick  Cransburgh,  Prussia,  brig  Star 
John  C.  Cox,  b.  New- York,         do 
Stephen  Churchell,   Richmond,   Vir.  Viper,  Bah. 
Samuel  Cook,  Tiverton,  R.  I.  Price,  do 

Albert  Cooper,  New  bury  port,   Mass.   m^in  of  war 
Jerodia  Denison,  Middleton,  Con.  brig  Star 
John  Duncan,  Boston,  Viper 
Wm.  Ervine,  New- York,  Virginia  Planter 
Francis  Foster,  New-London,  Con.  Meteor,  N.  Y, 
Shubel   Folger,  Nantucket,  Mass.  William  Bayard 
William  Fenton,  Wiscasset,  Maine,  man  of  war 
Daniel  Holt,  New-London,  Con.  brig  Star,  N.  Y. 
John  Hughs,  New-Yoi-k,  do.  do 

John  Hubbard,         do  do  do 

James  Holms,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  Magdalin,  N.  Y. 
Thomas  Howell,  Beverley,  Mass.  Independence 
Anthony  Hughieco,  New-Orleans,  Rolla  privateer 
Aaron  Hinkley,  Bath,  Mass.  Viper,  Bal. 
Francis  Joseph,  New-Orleans,  brig  Star,  N.  Y. 
James  Jackson,  Phil.  Penn.  Paul  Jones,  N.  Y, 
John  Little,  do.  Unknown. 

Matthew  Latimore,  N.  Y.  Meteor,  N.  Y. 

Robert  Murray,  New-Port,  R.  '  Rolla,  Phil. 
Henry  Neal,         N.  Y.  N.  Y.      Ned,     Bal, 

Charles  M'Nies,  Bal.  Maryland,  Ned,  do. 
John  I^ewgent,  N.  Y.   True  blooded  Yankee* 

y  2 


254 


Francis  Rice,  Boston,  Mass.  Virginia  Planter* 
Ebcinezer  Rich,  Portland,  Mass.  Flash,  N.  York, 
John  Senate,       Phila;lelphia,  Wm.   Bayard. 

John  Sheard,      Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.    do.    do. 
John  Shultz,      Denmark,  Criterion,  N.  Y. 

Wni.  Smitli,       New-York,  Terrible. 

John  I'homson,  Denmark,     brig  Star. 

VVm.  Thomas,  Germany,   Viper,  Bal. 

Zach.  Tough,  New-London,  Con.        Terrible. 
John  Williams,  N.York,    N.  Y.      Wm.  Bayard. 
Edwai-d   Washburn,  N.  York,  N.  Y.  brig  Star 
George  Y/illiams,  Bal.    Maryl.  Charlotte,  Charls. 
John  Wilson,  Phil.  Penn.  Governor  Gerry,  N.  Y. 
William  Warner,      New-York,     N.  Y.     Ajax. 
John  Vv^est,  do.  do.    Dukanor. 

Israel  Wright,  Tinmouth,  Vcr.  brig  Star,  N.  Y. 
Y>^m.  Wilson,  Long-Island,  N.  Y.  Ned,  Bal. 
Robert  Wesel,  New-York,  N.  Y.  do.  ^  do. 
Jame-  Pickerton,  Hampton,  Vir.  Lightning,  Phil. 
Francis  Lisda,  New-Orleans,  Louisiana,  unknown. 
James  Johnson,    New- York,     N.  Y.    brig  Mars. 


TJie  foUoxoing  is  a  correct  list  of  all  who  entered  his 
Majestij''s  service  from  the  different  prison  ships 
at  Chatham,  frord  April  181 S,  until  June  1814, 
Copied  from  the  clerk^s  books, 

John  Anderson,  b.  Newcastle,  Del.   man  of  war, 

John  Atkinson,  b.  Baltim.  Maryland,  True  Blood. 

John  Austin,    unknown,  unknown* 


255 

Josiah  Abraham,  Phil,  Pen.  man  of  war. 

James  Anderson,  Bal.  Maryland,  unknown. 

Peter  Boyd,  New- York,  N.  Y.         do. 

John  Boyd,  Kennebunk,  Mass.         do. 

John  Brown,   New-Bedford,   Impressed. 

John  Bauld,  Block  Island,   man  of  war. 

Isaac  Baily,  Boston,  Mass.  do. 

John  Brown,  Salem,  do.  True  Blood. 

Peter  Brown,  Phil.  Penn.  unknow^n. 

George  Bing,  New- York,  N.  Y.  man  of  w^ar. 

John  Brown,  b.  Salem,  Mass.         do. 

Samuel  Billham,  b.  do.    do.  do. 

John  Barks,  New-Bedford,  do. 

Geo.  Burns,  Phil.   Penn.  do. 

Asa  BuoijHis,  New-Bedford,  Mass.  unknown. 

Rufus  Brown,  Eastport,         do. 

Jolin  Burns,  North-Carolina,  do. 

John  Baily,  Hainsbury,  Mass.  do. 

Ebenezer  Carter,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  man  of  war 

Isaac  Crawford,  Boston,  Mass.  do. 

Benjamin  Gotten,  Norfolk,  Vir.  do. 

Thomas  Charles,  b.  New- York,  N.  Y.       do. 

Charles  Cuffee,  Long-Island,  N.  Y.  man  of  war. 

Isiiac  Carrol,  New-York         do.     unknown. 

Ezekiel  Church,  Phil.  Penn.  do. 

P.  ter  Dowling,  Lewisburg,  Vir.  Gov.  Tomkinis, 

\s  m.  Denning,  New-Bedford,  man  of  war. 

Ib^ac  Daritou,  Boston,  Mass*    do. 


256 

Thomas  Denison,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  man  of  \\rar 
Tiioniis  Dunn,  New- York,  N.  Y.  unknown.. 
John  Davis,  Alexandria,  Vir.  man  of  war. 
Henry  Dison,  Hohnes'  Hole,     unknown. 
Silas  Eaton,  Phil.  Penn.  M.  S.  Malta. 
Duiley  French,  b.  Newbury  port,  Mass.  unknown. 
John  Fowler,  unknown,  do. 

Ehds  Field,     do.  cio. 

Nicnolas  Gold,  North  Kingston,  R.  I.         do. 
Wm.  Goes,  New- York,  N.  Y.  do. 

Jeremiah  Gills,  b.  Baltimore,  Maryland,    do. 
Isaac  Griffin,  Boston,  Mass.  do. 

Gills,  New- York,  N.  Y.  do. 

Samuel  Harvey,  North  Carolina,  Impressed. 
James  Hoyd,  New-York,  N.  Y.  man  of  war.. 
Henry  Hamong,  Phil.  Penn.  brig  Esel,  Bal. 
Henry  Holsworth,  New- York,  unknown. 
John  Hopkins,  unknown.  do. 

Samuel  Hopkins,   do.  do. 

Su.nuel  Hainsly,  b.  do.  do. 

Wm.  Hull,  b.  Bal.  Maryland,  do. 

Johnson  Harlem,  b.  New- York,  do. 
James  Hall,  Wainsburg,  N.  Y.  do. 
Wm.  Hubbard,  Providence,  R.  I.  do. 
Peter  Henry,  Phil.  Penn.  do, 

Thom.  Hazaird,  Narraganset,  R.  I.  do» 
John  Fitz,  New-Bedford,  Mass.  do. 
Benjamin  ilolbrook,  Kennebeck     do. 


Thomas  Jackson,  b.  New-York,  unknowzi 
John  Jackson,  Long-Island,  do. 

Samuel  Jackson,  b.  Salem,  Mass.  do. 
John  Jackson,  b.  New-Bedford,  do. 
Wm.  Johnson,  Norfolk,  Vir.  do- 

Zaca  James,  Snowhill,  Maryland,  do. 
Francis  Johnson,  Bal.         do.  do. 

Nathan  Kezer,  Ncwburyport,  Mass.do. 
John  Jones,  Boston,  do.    do. 

Isaac  Lemur,  do.  do.  Impressed. 

Andrew  Lamson,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  unknown^ 
John  Lunderson,  New- York,  do. 

John  Lames,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  brig  Hunter. 
George  Lewis,  b.  unknown,  unknown. 

George  Lee,  b.  Salem,  Mass.  do. 
Ajsfi  Freeman,.  Pittyfoog,  unknown. 
Jeremiah  Miller,  Soco,  Maine,  do. 
Edward  Mathews,  Phil.  Penn.  man  of  war» 
John  Morris,  do.         do.  do. 

Mr.  Fairlin,  Bait.  Maryland,  do. 

Benjamin  M-jrgan,  b.  unknown,  do. 

Benjamin  Melvin,  b.  Nuntucket,  Mass.  do. 
John  Molden,  b.  Bait.  Maryland,         do. 
Morris,  New- York,  do. 

Edw.  Moulton,  Newburyport,  Mass.    do. 
Henry  Moore,  New- York,  do. 

John  Mackey,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.         do. 
JohnNicklas,     New-York,    N.  Y.  manof  w?- 


258 

• Owens,  Philadelphia,  Pemi. 

Richard  Porter,  Wiscasset,  Mass.  Impressed. 
Thomas  Parkman,   unknown. 
Edward  Phillips,      do. 
Elisha  Paul,   Maryland. 
Sirnon  Roy,  Saybrook,  Connecticut. 
John  Ride,  Philadelphia,  Penn. 
Thomas  Roberson,  Plymouth,  Mass.  man  of  War 
-John  Rough,  Alexandria,  Virginia. 
William  Riley,  Philadelphia. 

Henry  Randolph,  ,  Massachusetts. 

Robert  Real,  New-York,    N.  Y. 

James  Roberts,  b.  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Robert  Roberts,  b-   New-York. 

John  Ring,  Philadelphia,  Penn. 

Nathan  Robinson,    unknown. 

Morris  Russell,   Savannah,    Georgia. 

William  Rich,  Warrington,  Con. 

Isaac  Somendycke,  New- York. 

George  Simsons,  b.  PhiladeliDhia. 

David  Simond,  b.    Alexandria,  Virg.  impressed 

John  Smith,      Norfolk,  do.  do. 

James  Stanly,  Nev/-York. 

William  Symons,  b.  Charleston,  S.  C. 

William  Steward,  b.  unknown. 

John  Simson,   b.  do. 

William  Strong,  Marblehead,  Mass. 

David  Stephens,  Long-Island,  N.  Y. 


259 

William  Scofield,  Turkey-Hill,  Oldhadam,  Con. 

John  Thompson,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. 

Edward   F'itly,        New- York. 

John  Vanderhoven,    do. 

William  Welch,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

Charles  Wctmore,  Norwich.  Con. 

John  B.  Williams,  Baltimore,  Md. 

John  Wells,  New- York. 

Charles  Wight,  Alexandria,  Vii-, 

Charles  Wilford,  New-York. 

Charles  Williams,  unknown. 

William  Watson,  Charleston,   S.  C.  man  of  war. 

William  Walker,  Pelham,  N.  H. 

Jason  Wood,   Philadelphia,  Penn. 

William  Wood,         do.  do. 

Ezekiel  Wilson,        do.  do. 

William  Wolf,  Savannah,  Georgia. 

Charles  AVilson,  Providence,  R.  I. 

Robert  Wilson,    Newport,     do. 

The  following  is  a  correct  list  of  prisoners  who  en' 
tcred  his  Majesty  s  service  at  the  Depot  of  Staple- 
ton,  from  July    18J3,   until  May  1814,   copied 
from  the  clerk's  hooks, 

John  Abrahams,  b.  New- York,    Grand  Napoleqn 
John  Brown,  Charleston,  S.  C.     Revenge. 
John  Beinbridge,  Dutchm.an,      Tickler,  Boston 
Charles  Burgoin,  Charleston,  S.  C.  Revenge, 


26d 


Joseph  Fletcher,  Portland,  Mas.  Orders  in  Council 
Henry  Hendrick,  do. 

Ebon.  Jacobs,  Newburyport,      impressed. 
William  Howard,  Philadelphia,.    Fox. 
Stephen  ITpiiry,  black  man. 
Robert  Hackley,         New- York,    unknown. 
Mark  Mason,  Philadelphia,  Fox. 

James  Marley,  Norfolk,  Virg.        impressed. 
George  Rus-^tll,  New-York,  Tom  6f  Baltimore. 
John  Smith,  Paul  Jones. 

Francis  Surges,     black  man. 
Thomas  Taylor,     Maryland,    Price  of  Baltimore 
Charles  White,  New-York,       Meteor. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  names  of  persons  tolw 
died  at  Stapleton  prison,  from  Jw/?/ 1813,  until 
June  1814. 

George  Morgan,  Long-Island,  N.  Y.  Grand  Na- 
poleon. 
David  Smart,  New- York,   Price  of  Baltiraorcv 
John  Dunn,  Philadelphia,    do.  do. 

D.  Francis,  Providence,  R.  I.  Hebe  of  Philadel. 
John  Mitchel,  New- York,  unknown 

Isaac  Watts,  Charleston,  S.  C.  do 

Lambert  Johnson,  New- York,  do 


261 

The  following  is  a  list  of  names  of  persons  who  died 
at  Chatham,  on  hoard  the  different  prison-ships 
frfim  January  1813,  until  June   1814  ;  at  which 
time  all  the  jjrisoners  were  removed  to  the  depot  at 
Dartmoor. 
Feb.  28,   1814.  Samuel  Abbct,  Andover,  Mass 
Feb.  19,  1814.  William  Allen,  Newport.  R.  I. 
January  4,  1313.  Josejih  Andrews,  Marblehead 
January  7,  1813.  Howel  Baysta,  Boston,  Mass 
Dec.  5,  1814.     Moses  Blackman,  Boston,  do 

James  Butler,   unknown. 
Feb.  28,   1814.  William  Butler,  Baltimore,  Md 
March  31,        John  Adams,  New-York. 
Dec.  1813.  ElyBactman,  Wocester  county,  Mai^ 

Thomas  Billings,  New- York. 
Jan.  9.  Christopher  Bi^lbadge,  Salem,  Mass 
May  3,  Edward  Brown,  Marblehead,  do' 
June  5,  Nicholas  Bunker,  Scituale,      -do 
June  11.  Jesse  Brown,  Belfast,  Maine 
Nov.  23,  1813.  Thomas  Carter,  Norfolk,  Vir 
May  4.  Thomas  Copland^  Charleston,  S  C 
April  16.    Isaac  Clough,  Marblehead,  Mass 

May  25,  Christy,  Baltimore,  U.  S.  gun-boat 

March  4.  James  Davis,  Somerset 
April  27.  John  H.  Downie,   Salem,  Mass. 
July  3.  JamesDiverause,    do.         do. 
April  18.   Benjamin  Elvell,  Gloucester,  Mass 
May  19,  W  iUiam  Elingwood,  Marblehead,  Mass 


252 

Jan.  27.  William  Foller,  Marblehead,  Haiss 

March  27.  Anthony  Fundy,  New-Yofk 

April  12,    1814.     William   Forman,  Portsmo^utl;. 

New  Hampshire 
May  18.  Amos  Graindy,  Marblehead,  Mass 
June  6,  1813.  James  B.  Green,  Alexandria,'Vir 
June  25,  1814.  Thomas  Hutchinson,  unknown 
Dec,  27.    George  Hubbard,  do 

Feb.  14.   William  Hart,  do 

April  17.  Jacob  Holt,  Salem,  Mass 
May.  Christopher  Hubbard,  Baltimore,  Md 
March  29,  Samuel  Head,  New- York 
February  5.  Samuel  Jones,  New- York,    Tyger 
May  16,  John  Johnson,  Long-Island,    N   Y 
March  12.  William  Light,  unknown       ' 

Feb.  23.  Reuben  Ludlow,  New^-York,'   Tyger 
Jan.  7.  James  Lewis,  Norfolk,   Vir 
March  30.  James  Ludlow,  Greenfield,  Con 
JUarch  22.  Ezekiel  Miller,  New- York 
March  29.  Samuel  Miller,  New- York 
April  1.  Fisher  Mansfield,  New-London,  Qon 
Aaron  Mackley,  drowned  escaping 
March  16.  Captain  Morgan,  Salem,  Mass.  Enter- 
prize 
•June  10.  James  Mills,    Alexandria,  Vir 
March  29,  1813.  Samuel  Nelson,  New- York 
January  6,  1814.   Hugh  Nichcls,  Newbern,  N  C- 
April  3.  William  Pousland,  Marblehead,  Mass 


.*^ 


263 


April  20.  Clemont  Pair,  Portland,  Maine 

21.  'Edward  Patten,  Baltimore 
May  24.  William  Potter,  Beverly,  Mass 
June  6.  David  Pinkham,  Nantucket,  do 
Jan.  4.  Jared  Ray,  New- York 

John  Roaply,   New- York 
March  25.  Charles  Saunders,  near  Alexandria,  V 
do     19i  Proctor  Simonds,     unknown 
do     24.  Ebenezer  Skinnei",  Nantucket,  Mass 
Henry  Scot,   Baltimore 
Jonathan  Sawyer,  Portland,  Maine 
Nov.  25,  1813.  Reuben  Moslaird,  Nantucket,  Mas 

Tygcr,  N  Y 
Feb.  16.  Daniel  Roaps,  Salem,  Mas 
May  9.     John  Rottor,  Md. 
April  24,  1814.  James  Smith,  Marblehead,   Mass 

Growler,  -  -  Salem.         do 

May  28.  Jonathan  Trueman,  Portland,  Maine 
March  G.  Edward  Williams,  Philadelphia. 
April  14.  James  Weeks,  Marblehead,  Mass 

do  29,  1813.  Samuel  Warren,         unknown 
March  4.  Richard  Winchester,  Gloucester,   Mass 

—  Webber,  Kennebeck,  Maine 

August  16.  Francis  WiUiams,  Salem,  Mass 
March  26.  Stephen  Thatson,  Brookiield,  do 

Thirty-nine  names  unknown — chiefly  U.  States 
loiaiitrv 


264 

The  following  contains  a  list  of  the  persons  who  died 
at  Dartraoor^  from  April  IS13,  until' the- ISih 
February,  1815  /   copied  from  the  reports  of  the 

Doctor. 

Dec  23,  1813.  Henry  Alligo,  New- York,  U.  S.  brig 
Argus 

Oct.  24.  Ambrose  Alamond,  Carthagenia,  Presi- 
dent 

^ov.  6.  John  Adams,    Washington,  S.  C  Grey- 
hound 
do.  21.  John  B.  Allen,  New- York,  Herald 

Dec.  25,  1814.  Isaac  Anderson,  Portsmouth,  N  H 
Huzzar 

Dec  23.  Joshua  Andrews,  Ipswich,  Mass.  David 

do  3.     John  Adams,  N.  C.  America 
do  27.  Alexander  Anderson,  N-  York,  Criterion 
Jan.  7.  Jacob  Anderson,  Portsmouth,  N  H 

do  26.  Daniel  Archer,  Salem,  Mass-  Grand  Turk 
Jan.  4,  1815.  Daniel  Appleton,    Portsmouth,  N  H 

U  S  Frolic 
Feb.  5.    Robert  Adams,  Marblehead,   Mass,  He- 
rald 
Feb.  18.  Peter  Amos,  Martha's  Vineyard,  do.  In- 

vmcible  Napoleon 
Nov.  14.  Asa  Allen,  Boston,    Herald 
May  5,  1814.  Nick  Bianchard 


265 

Nov.  20,  1813.  Hezekiah  Bray,  Boston,  India 
do  23.  John  Boatman,    Baltimore,  Chasseur 
do  5.  1814.  Lewis  Bryen,  Carolina,   Hawke 
do  27.  Peter  Berry,    died  suddenly 
do  28.  Peter  Barker,  Boston,  Derby 
do  28.  Peter  Bin,  Petersburg,  Vir.  Independence 
do  3,1813.  Thomas    Barren,  Virg.    U    S   brig 
Argus 
Dec.  2.  Henry  Burly,  New- York 
do  5.   John  Baldwin,  Boston,  Fox 
do  8.  James  Barret,  Pennsylvania,  Bury 
do  26,  1814.    Henry  Burbage,    Virginia,    Grey- 
hound 
January  30.   Charles  Barker 
do  27.  Benjamin  Bale,  Dover,  N.  H.  Victory 
do  20.  Philip  Blagdcll,  New-Hampshire,  Erie 
do  1 4.  James  Beck,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  impressed 
Jaa.  17,  1815.  Daniel  Bourge,  Portsmouth,  N,  H, 

Hailequin 
Feb.  11.  George  Brown,  West-Chester,  N.  Y.  im- 
pressed 
do  17..  Charles  Brown,  Boston,  Paul  Jones 
do  1 7.  Mo^es  Bailey,  Philadelphia,  Scorpion 
Nov.  21,  1814.  John  JBablista,  New- York,  Herald 
Jan.  23.  1814,  John  Bryson,  Virginia,   Alicantr 
Doc.  29,  1814.  James  Booth,  New- York,  Mary 
Nov.  18,  1814.  Y.  S.  Bates,  unknown, 
July  4,  1814,  Wai.  Clarke,  Virginia,  Frplic 
%  2 


266 

Oct.  20,  1813,  Wm.  Clark,  South  Kingston,  K.  i. 

StarofN.  Y. 
Jan.  16,  Charles  Cornish,  Bait.  Md.  Chesepeake 
March  5,  James  Combs,  Bristol,  D.  Maine,  U.  S. 
brig  Argus 
do,  20,  John  Cole,  Wiscasset,  impressed    . . 
April  6,  Benjv^min  Cook,  Bait.  Md.  Chesepeake 
Oct.  3,  Deal  Carter,  New- York,  Zebra,  N.  Y. 
do.  7,  John  Collins,  Phil.  Mammoth  Baltimore 
do.  16,  John  Carney  or  Carson,  Vir.  Flash 
do.  25,  Simeon  Chanler,  Duxbury,  Essex 
Nov.    8,  Thomas    Cooper,    Washingtor.,    N.    C,  ■ 
Unio-. 
do.  11,  James  Congdon,  Cambridge,  Mass.  Mary 
do.  26,  John  Cole,  Bait.  Md.  Adeline 
Dec.  4,  Richard  Coifee,  Long-Island,  N.  Y.  Am.er. 
Jan.  17,  Samuel  Campeach,  Carthegena,  President 
do.  24,  Simeon  Clark,  Weathersfield,  Snap-dragon 
Nov.  5,  1814,  Wm.  Coleman,  N.  C  Hawke 
May  10,  Wm.  Dilton,  Georgetown,  Argus 
Nov.  14,  Silas  Durham,  Boston,  Mass.  India 
"  do.  18,  Amasa  Dilano,  New-Bedford,    do.  • 
Jan.  10,  Wm.  Dimamond,  R.  I.  brig  Mary 
Oct.  25,   1814,  David  Dunham,  unknown,  Fame, 

Baltimore 
Jan.  27,  William  Edgar,  N.  Jersey,  Hepsie 
do.   6,  1815,  Edward  Evans,  Kennebunk,  brig 
Star,  N.  Y. 


267 

Pel).  25,   1814,  Wm.  Ferza,  Granviile.    '^lermaiii 

Jan.  27,  1814,  James  Fulford,  N.  C  Snap-dragon 

Wm.  Fletcher,  Marblehead,  Mass.  Spitfire,  Boston 

Dec.  23,  1813,  Henry  Frelitch,  Liv^erpool,  Penn, 
Liverpool 

i^'ovember  12.    Jesse   Field,    Townsend,    Maice^ 
Siron 
do  30.    Joshua  Fowler,  Boston,  Impressed 

January  23,   William  Fennel,  Portsmouth,  N.  H, 
Harper. 

March  18,  1814.  Thomas  Foquct.  v';.i:i\  ii;o,  brig 
Argus 

May  1813.  Reuben  Glass,  Duxbury,  Mars  of  Bal- 
timore 

April  19,  1814.  Thomas  Gasgiline,  Martinico,  W.  L 
Augustine 

October  22.    William  Gibson,  New- York,  Rattle- 
snake 

November  4.    Francis  Gardner,    ,    R.hode 

Island,  Rambler 

December  3.  John  Gaylor, ►,  North  Carolina> 

America 

February  17,  1815.    James  Gedman,  Portsmouth^ 
N.  H.  Bunker-Hill 

January  29,  1 81 5.    Richard   Hughs,    New- York, 
Amiable,  Phila. 

March  5..  Simeon  Harress,  New- York,  Magdalen 

July  3, 1814.  James  Henry,      do        U.  S-    brig 
^^rgus 


268 

Julys,  James  Hart,  do.   Courier  of  Bal- 

timore 

Novciiiber  9.    Isaac  Hermain,    Portland,   Maine, 
Ei  bridge    Gerry 
do   11.  James  Hetrope,  Cambridge,  Mass.  Mary 
da  24.  William   Harress,     Portsmouth,    N.  H, 
Portsmouth 

December  21.    Dempey  Hydra,   ,    North 

Carolina,  Paul  Jones 
do      -        4.  Silas  Hardison,  ,  N.  Carolina 

Januarys,  1815.  Elijah  Hartford,  St.  Thomas,  U. 
States  Infantry 

February  5.  Jacob  Hanley,  Milford,  impressed 

December  29,  1814.   Alexander  Henderson,  Ne\v» 
York,  Criterion 

November  4,  1814.    William  Jones,  Cambridge^ 
Pvlass.  Hawke 

April  30,  1814.   George  Jones, ,  Connecti- 
cut, Viper  of  Baltimore 

June  25.  Lambert  Johnson,   Middletown,    N.  J, 
Paul  Jones 
do      6.  Thomas  Jackson,  New-York,  impressed 

November  2.  Alexander  Johnson,  Charlestoi*,  6.  C. 
William 
do  25-'  Manuel  Joseph,  Oporto,    impressed 

January  24.   Thomas  Jarvis,  Marblehead,  Mass. 
Industry 

Janua-y  8,  1815.   John  Johannas,  Salem,  Mass^ 
President 


269      . 

February  1.  John  Johnson,  New- York,   born  in 
Rhode-Island,    Criterion 

November  11,  1814.  James  Ketrope,  Cambridge, 
Mary 

February  3,  1815-    Uriah  King,  Scituate,    Mass. 
Dominick 
Nov.  3,  1814.  Jesse  Lasol,  Martinico,  President 

August  5,  1814.  John  Lewis,  R,  I.  True  Blooded 
Yankee. 

Jan.  1,  1814,  James  Lestar,  unknown,     do. 

Jan.  J  5,  Charles  Lamson,  Bait.  Md.  Mars,    Bait. 

Sept.  30,  Lewis  Larkins,   Durham,  Mass.  RoUa. 

Nov.  1,  Placid  Lorly,  Washington,  Hawke. 

Nov.  22,  Anthony  Lamb,  Con.    Grand  Turk. 

Dec.  30,  Richard  Lee,  Mass.  brig  Argus. 

Jan.  27,  Amos  Larkins,  Beverly,  Mass.  Impressed 

Feb.  4,  1815,  James  Laskey,  Marblehead,  Mass 
Enterprise. 

Nov.  20,  1814,  Sola.  Marshall,  Mass.  Alexandria 

Oct.  1,  1813,  Thomas  Morrison,    Bait.  Md.  Mes- 
senger. 

Jan.    14,  1814,   Henry   Moore,  New- York,   Mar- 
mion,  N.  Y. 

Feb.   24,    John   Montgomery,  New-Bedford,  Im- 
pressed. 

Sept.  22,  Manuel  Martin,  N.  Orieans,  Paul  Jones.. 
New- York 

Oct,  27,  Calasso  Madosa,  Carthagena,  President 


270 

October  25,  Albert  Mingo,  N.  Orleans,  Weezer 

Nov.  18,  Rollen  M-Donovan,    Mass.    Siro 

Nov.  1 8,  John  Macky,  Bait.  Md.  Rattlesnake 
do.  20,   Richard  Miller,  Penn.  Snap  Dragon 

Jan.  30,  Joseph  Mid^e,  unluiown 

Dec.    12,    Ezekiel  Mitchell,  Poitland,  D.   Maine 
Charlotte 

Feb.  5,  1815,  Jesse  March,  Kennebunk,  do. 
M'Donough 

Feb.  14,  Wm.  Mister>^  Bait.  Md.  impressed 
do.  17,  John  Martin,  Carthagena,  President 
Sol.  Marshal,  Deer  Island,  Mass.  Mammotli  I 

Jan.  22,  1815,  Peter   Mitchell,  New-York,  For- 
midable 

Nov.  15,  1813,  Benj.  Newbern,  New-York,  U.  S. 
brig  Argus 

Sept.  29,  1814,  Edward  Norton,  Plymouth,  Mass. 
U.  S.  ship  Argus 

Feb.  -24,  1815,  Daniel  Nash,  Maryland,  impressed 

Oct.   7,   18  J  4,  Josiah  Pettengell,   Salem,  Mass 
Enterprise 

Nov.  4,  1814,  Joel  Perigo,  Beston,  Mass.  India 

March  12,  1814,  Samuel  Pcarce,  Greenwich,  R.  I. 
DartofN.  Y. 

Dec.  4,  1814,  Samuel  Peterson,  Phil.  Nonsuch 

Nov.  5,  1814,  Thoinas  Parker,  Bait.  Md.    Domi- 
nique 

Nov.  28,  Wm.    Parker,  New-York,  Derby 


27l 

Jan.  30,  1814,  Charles  Parker,  unknown 
^ov.  3,  John  Perkins,  Pittsfield,  IVjass.  Siro 
Nov.  7,  James  Palmer,  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  Frolic 
do.  23,  John  Pollard,  Pcrnambiico,  S.  A.   Ida 
Jan.  14,  Aaron   Peterson,  Stonington,  Con.  Joel 

Barlow 
Oct.  5,  John  Potter,  Phil.  Penn.  impressed 
Sept.    25,  Ephraim   Pinkham,  Wiscassct,  Maine^ 

Mammoth  '^ 

May   1813,   Florace    Risley,  Long-Island,   N.  Y. 

StarofN.  Y. 
November  16,  1814.    Benjamin  Rinevon,  Guada- 

loupe.  West  Indies,  Fox 
do    12.    LukeRodgers, ,  North  Carolina, 

Fairy 

,  ^do  14.  David  Reed, Townsend,  District  of  Maine^ 

America 
December  29.  James  Rooth,  Norwich,  Con.  Mary 

January  9,  1814.  Silas  Hardison, ,   Nortb 

Carolina,  Hawke 
do         22.   Thomas  Rix,  Suffolk,  Vir.   Labrador 
February  7,  1815.  Francis  Roberts,  St.  Sebastian. 
Spain,  Chesepeake 
do  14.  John  Risdon,  Baltimore,   Pike 

do  15.     Samuel  Robenson,    Boston,     Duca- 

navia 
December  9,  1814.  Samuel  Robenson,  Philadel- 
phia, Nonsuch 


272 

January  16,  1814.  William  Saunders,  Kennebunk, 

Maine,   Mars  of  Baltimore 
October  17,  William  Shans,  U:  S.  brig  Argus 
do         20.  Francis  Saul,  Wiscasset,  Maine,  Mer- 
cury 
do         ^5.  Jacob  Sawyer,    Providence,     R.   I. 
impressed 

November  3,  Richard  Sperdy,  ,    Virginia, 

Amelia 
do         20.  Isaac  Simerson,    New- York,  Invinci- 
ble 
do         21.  Lewis  Stow,  Middle  to  v/n.  Con.  Tick- 
ler 
December  7.  Jacob  C.   Secusa,  New- York,  Vo- 
lunteer 
do  8.  Nicholas  Smith,  Richmond,  Virginiaj 

Herald 
do  15.  John  Stiles,  Baltimore,  Md.  William 

Bayard 
January  24.  Henry  Schelding,  unknown 

do         14.  Smith  Schelding,    New- York,      Fort 

Erie 
do  5,  1815.    John  Stow,  Harlequin 

do         20.  John  Straul,  Portland,  Maine,   Siro 
March  15,  1814.  William  Sternis,  Norwich,  Conj 
Viper  of  Baltimore 

December  5.    William  Smart,  ,   Virginia,, 

Gothland 


273 

January  28, 1815.     Daniel  Simons,    Marblehead, 

Mass.  Enterprise 
do         12.  Ebenezer  Simons,    unknown 

February  7.  John  Seapach,   Portland,  Maine,  Ali- 
cant 

March  9,  1814.  Eleazer  Tobic,  New- York,  True- 
blooded  Yankee 

February  25.  William  Tyre,  Springfield,  Viper  of 
Baltimore 

March  18.  Thomas  Tagatt,  Granville,   Argus 

July  23.  Abraham  Thomas, ,  Con.  P.  Jones 

September  26.      Matthew  Tineman,     New- York, 
Tom  Thumb 

October  25.  John  Thomas,   New-York,  Elbridge 
Gerry 

November  3.     Abraham    Tompkins,    New- York, 
Governor  Shelby 
do  24.   Francis  Tuttle,  Pernell,  Maine,  Leo 

December  2.    Jolin  B.    Taylor,   New- York,  Fair 
American 

January  27,  James  Fulford, ,  North  Caro- 
lina, Snap-Dragon 

February  12, 1815.Samuel  TophownjMontgomery, 
soldier  of  the  U.  S.  A. 

January  8.   James  Vassa,  unknown.  Growler 

January  19,    1815.    Daniel  Very,   Salem,    Masg, 
Frolic 

A  a 


274 

August  31,  1814.    Nathaniel  Vaughrs,    Newport, 
R.  I.  Ducanavia 

March  20,  1814.    Thomas  Williams, ,  Con- 
necticut, Viper  of  Baltimore 

October  27.  William  Williams,  Georgetown,   Ma- 
ria Theresa 

December  5.    William  Wescott, ,  Virginia, 

Gothland 

January  14,  James  Williams,  Weathersfield,  Con. 
Caroline 

do         17.  Seth  Williams,   Portsmouth,    N.  H. 
Harlequin 

January  28,  1815.  George  Overt, ,   New» 

Hampshire,   impressed 
do  8.  Joseph  Wedger,   Marblehead,   Mass 

Growler 

February  1.  Joseph  Williams,  Gay-Head,  Enter- 
prise 

January  24, 1814.  Thomas  Zervice,  Marblehead, 
Mass.  Industry 

January  21,  1814.  WiUiam  Young,  North  Carolina, 
Levant 


275^ 

The  following  is  a  list  of  persons  zoho  escaped  from 
Dartmoor  prison,  from  September  1814;  the  first 
escape^  until  March   13,  1815- 

September  20,   1814.    Shapley  Smith,  Baltimore, 
Leo 
do  20.  Henry  Cottrill,  Narraganset,  R.  I. 

unknown 
October,  1814.  Captain  Swain,  New-Bedford,  Ma?. 

1814.  Gascoigne,         unknown 
November  — .  Henry  Allen,  Salem,  Mass.  Polly 
John  Windham,  unknown 

December  — . Russell,  New-Bedford,  Mass. 

do  — .    Howard,       unknown 

September  — .  Benjamin  Prince,  Portland,  Maine, 
Magdalen 

January,    1815.  Rodgers,  New- York,  True- 

blooded  Yankee 
do       — .     Caleb  Holmes,  do.      unknown 

February,     1815.  Joseph  Langford,     Baltimore, 

True-blooded  Yankee 
do  6.  George  Denison,     Portland,   Maine, 

Siro  of  Baltimore 
do         12.  John  W.  Fletcher,  Alexandria,    Vir, 
Rattlesnake 
Blarch  12,  1815.  David  Flood,  Portland,  Maine., 
impressed 


276 

March  — .  Isaiah  Bunker,     Philadelphia,    True- 
blooded  Yankee 
do       18.  William  Webster,     unknown 

Escaped  from  the  last  date,  until  April,  six  men, 
names  unknown 

The  follozoiiig  is  a  correct  list  of  names  of  prisoyiers 
who  died  at  Dartmoor  prison^  from  February  18, 
1815,  xmtil  April  20,    1815. 

March  4.  Archibald  Allen,  ,  New- Jersey, 

impressed 

do     15.  William  Adams,  . ,    Connecticut, 

impressed 

Capt.  Allen,  of  the  U.  States  brig  Argus, 
of  his  wounds 

February  22,  1815.  John  Butler, ,  Delaware, 

Semi  ram  us 

March  IS.  Peter  Burch,  Philadelphia,  Prosperity 

do     29.  William  Brady,  Baltimore,  Flash,  N.  Y. 

do     22.  Henry  Campbell,    Philadelphia,     Pen. 

Columbia 

April  5.  James  Campbell,  Nev»^-York,  impressed 

March  1 1 .  Jonathan  Dyer,     Portsmouth,   N.  H. 

True-blooded  Yankee 
February  25.  Jonathan  Davis,  Middle-river,  Mass. 
ship  Yorktown 


277 

March  30.  Benjamin  Delano,  Ducksbury 

April  12.  John  Devinas, ,  Ohio 

March  14.  William  Evin, Rhode  Island, 

brig   Star 
do       18.  Archibald  Fogerty, ,  Massachu- 
setts,    Horatio 
April  16.     John  Francis,  Norfolk,  Vir.  impressed 
March  4.  Jeremiah  Gardner,  Newport,  R.  1.  im- 
pressed 
February  23.  Josiah  Gun,    Salem,  Mass. 
March  24.  Thomas  Groves,  Boston,  Mass.    Port 
Mehon 
do       14.  Jonathan    Gladding,     Bristol,    R.    I. 
Rattlesnake 
February  24.  Francis  Hobden.  Gloucester,  Vir. 
March   10.  Abijah  Holbrook,  Weymouth,  Derby 
do       14.  John  Hobson,  Bedford,  N.  C.    Snap- 
dragon 
do       20.  Joseph  Haycock,  Portland,  Maine 
April    6.  Henry  Holden,     Boston,   Sultan 

6.  John  Haywood, ,  Vir.  impressed 

18.  Thomas  Hall,  Surprise 

February  22.  John  Jennings,  Gay  Head,    M.  V. 
Hawke 

23.  James  Jones, ,  Md.   impressed 

26.  Peter  Joseph,  W.  Indies,  President 

A  a  2 


278 

February  24.  Edward  Jenkins,  Gimibridge,  Mass. 

Tom  of  Baltimore 
March  10.  Wm.  Johnson,  Salem,  Mas.  impressed 

do       14.  John  Jackson,  Baltimore,         do 
April  6.  Thomas  Jackson,  New- York,   Orbit- 
do    6.  Joseph  Johnson,    ,    ConneGticut, 

Paul  Jones 
Feb.  26.  James  Knapps,  Baltimore,     impressed 

John  Kelly,  Marblehead,  Mas.  Allred 
April  16.  Jacob  Kemble,  Jenet 

do      6.  William  Leverett,  New- York,  Saratoga 

March  10.  Capt.  Lepiate, ,  N.  Y.  Paul  Jones 

February  21.    Edward   Miller,     Newark,    N.  J. 
Mammoth 
do  21.   Charles  Moutle,    Stonnington,  Con. 

impressed 
March  26.  James  Morris,  Baltimore,  President 

24.  William  Mills,    city  of  Jersey,  N.   J. 

Zebra 

27.  Benjamin  Marshall,  ,   Massachu- 
setts,   Mindor 

30.  George  Moore,   Boston,  Mass.  Chas- 
seur 
January  2.  John  Blonroe,  Albany,  N.  Y.  Rattle- 
snake 
April 6.  Jabez  Mann,  Boston,    Siro 


279 

March  10.  Jonathan  Paul,  Charleston,  S.  C   imp, 
do  ..     i'riomas    Peckham,   Windham,     Con. 

Paul  Jones 

do         22.  Gideon  Porter,  ,   Rhode  Island, 

impressed 
April  1.  Samuel  Parish,  Norfolk,  Vir.  Grand  Na- 
poleon 
February  23.  Joseph  Quios,  Salem,  Mas.  Herald 
Mdi'ch  2,  Joseph  Rasom,   VViscasset,  Maine,  Ned 
of  Baltimore 
do      2.   Joseph  Robenson,    do  do.      Ned 

of  Baltimore 

April  1.  James  Robenson,    ,  Massachusetts, 

Price  of  Baltimore 
do  18-  William  Robenson 
March  20.  Jeremiah  Stan  wood,  New  buryport,  Ms. 
impressed 
do       17.    Silas  Squibs,  New-London,  Connecti- 
cut,   Hope-packet 
February  22.  Martin  Sutten,  Nev/ Bedford,  Mass. 

Lion 
M  .rch  4.  David  Shute,   Salem,  Mass.    impressed 
do       5.   Andrew  Smith,  Indian  River,      Tom 

do     14.  Joseph  Salesbury, ,  Massachusetts, 

Zenith 

do    16.  Theodore  Snell,  — ,  Rhode  Island, 

a  soldier 


2^0 


Mnrch  16.  Stephen  Stacy,  Marblehead,  Mass.  Ohi© 
February  21.  Henry  Thomas,  Cambridge,  Mass. 

Derby 
April  14.   Richard  Smith,  Grand  Turk 

February  21.  David  Turner,  Boston,  Derby 
April  6.  John  Turner,  Massachusetts, 

Rattlesnake 
do    18.    William  Thompson,  Siro 

February  25.  Darius  Vilims,     Providence,    R.  I. 

Frolic 
March  10.  Charles  Williams,  New-London,   Con* 
do      17.  Samuel  Williams, ,  Massachusetts, 

Scorpion 

do      26.  Edward  W^illiams, ,Va.  impressed 

April  6.  John  Washmgton,     Cooperstown,     Md. 

Rolla 

Died  at  Ashherton  during  the  war, 

March  10,  i815.  B.  Elvel,  Gloucester,  Mass.  Fire- 
Fly 

do      25.  Abraham  Burnham,  ■ ,  Mass.  Price 


281 


Supplement  of  some  matters  obtained  since  the 
preceditig  pages  were  written. 

Copy  of  a  letter  from  Lieut.  N.  D-  Nicholson,  of 
the  late  U.  States  brig  Si/ren,  to  Capt.  Samuel 
Evans,  commanding  naval  officer  at  JSTeza- For A% 

New- York,  August  24,  1815. 
Sir, 

Conceiving  it  my  duty  to  make  known  the 
treatment  exhibiteil  by  British  officers  and  men, 
to  those  who  are  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  their 
power,  I  am  induced  to  acquaint  you  with  the  fol- 
lowing circumstances  : 

After  the  surrender  of  the  Si/reji  to  the  Medwai/, 
the  officers  and  crew  of  the  former  were  removed 
to  the  latter  :  the  crew  not  being  allowed  the  pri- 
vilege of  taking  their  clothing,  &lc.  w^ith  them, — 
so  that  the  prize-crew  had  a  fair  opportunity  of 
plundering  such  articles  as  they  thought  proper  ; 
which  opportunity  they  took  care  to  profit  by,  as 
many  of  our  men  were  pillaged  of  all  they  pos- 
sessed, excepting  w^hat  they  had  on  at  the  time  ; 
and  the  officers  in  like  manner  wxre  plundered  on 
board  the  Medioaij.  The  midshi]3men,  some  of 
them,  were  completely  stripped  ;  others  lobt  taeir 


282 


watches,  &c.  For  my  own  part,  I  came  off  with 
the  loss  of  about  half  my  clothing,  and  thought  my 
self  well  off  when  compared  with  the  losses  of  my 
shipmates. 

The  morning  after  our  capture,  we  were  mus- 
tered on  the  quarter-deck,  to  undergo  a  search ; 
ihe  men  were  then  stripped  to  the  skin,  and  their 
clothing  not  returned  ;  so  that  many  of  them  were 
left  without  any  thing  more  than  a  shirt  and  trow- 
sers.  The  next  day,  Mr.  Barton  (the  first  lieute- 
nant of  the  Medzvay)  distributed  the  clothing  he 
had  taken  from  our  men,  to  his  quarter-masters  and 
quarter-gunners  in  my  presence. 

After  being  on  board  the  Medway  five  weeks,  we 
were  landed  at  Simon-Tovv'n,  twenty-five  miles  to 
the  eastward  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope ;  myself 
and  brother  officers  paroled,  and  the  men  marched 
to  Cape-Town  under  an  escort  of  dragoons  ;  being 
obliged  to  ford  a  lake  on  the  march,  where  the  boys 
were  compelled  to  go  over  on  the  backs  of  the  tall 
men  ;  this  march  of  twenty-five  miles  was  per- 
formed in  one  day,  and  without  shoes  or  food  ; 
the  latter  article  they  were  kept  without  four  and 
twenty  hours  ;  their  shoes  were  stolen  by  the  crew 
of  the  Medivay  while  they  were  asleep.  After  re- 
maining in  this  situation  nearly  eight  months,  with- 
out bed  or  bedding,  (they  were  not  even  furnished 


283 


with  straw,  and  their  hammocks 
plea  of  their  being  pubUck  property 
embarked  in  different  men  of  war  ai 
for  England ;  myself,  and  about  sixty  officers  and 
men,  in  the  Cumberland,  seventy-four,  Capt.  Ba- 
ker, were  all  put  on  the  lower  gun-deck  without 
distinction,   among  their  own   crew,   and  fed   on 
prisoners'  allowance  ;   and  on  my  remonstrating 
with  the  captain  for  receiving  such  treatment,  he 
ordered  me  off  the  quarter-deck,  with  a  threat,  at 
the  same  time,  to  put  me  in  irons. 

We  remained  in  this  situation  eighteen  days,  af- 
ter which  Lieuts.  German,  Gordon,  and  myself, 
were  removed  to  the  Grampus,  thirty,  at  St.  He- 
lena, admitted  to  the  ward-room  mess,  and  treated 
with  civility. 

With  respect,  I  have  the  honour,  Szc. 

N.  D.  NICHOLSON, 
Capt.  Samuel  Evans. 


THE  END 


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